Retail News E-Magazine

Supporting homegrown heroes

WELCOME to the latest edition of Retail News, your premier source for the latest insights, trends and innovations in the FMCG retail industry.

In this issue, our Editor John Walshe chaired a panel discussion at the CSNA AGM, where store owners from across the island reflected on some of the biggest issues facing retailers in 2026 (Page 12), from the proposed ban on flavoured vapes to how to ensure your store stands out from the competition. Also inside, we celebrate the best of homegrown produce with our special report into the indigenous food and drink brands beloved of Irish consumers. Conor Kilduff, Executive Director of Love Irish Food, explains why Irish shoppers are loyal to local brands, why the support of supermarkets is crucial and the impact of continued inflation on suppliers (Page 30). Meanwhile, we reveal the latest research from Love Irish Food (Page 34), on how Irish suppliers view the current economic situation, and Guaranteed Irish and SuperValu, which shows that 84% of shoppers say buying Irish matters when doing their grocery shopping (Page 36).

We also report from Bord Bia Bloom, where over 90,000 people visited the country’s biggest horticulture and food festival. (Page 44).

As the retail landscape continues to evolve, our insights offer a valuable perspective for anyone looking to stay ahead in today’s competitive market.

Brian Clark Advertising & Marketing Director, Retail News

2 Flavoured vape ban will destroy vape business in retail. 3

Taoiseach responds to RGDATA concerns on costs. 4

Inflation eases slightly as summer sales soar; Food and drink manufacturers facing ongoing cost pressures. 5 GIY call for urgent national food education roll-out; Appointment at FSAI.

6 Irish SMEs set to drive Ireland’s energy transition;

7

Supermarkets score well in Ireland Reputation Index; Retailers encouraged to enter North–South Awards.

12 CSNA AGM & Conference

A stellar panel of experienced independent retailers discussed the future of convenience retailing in Ireland at the CSNA AGM and Conference, chaired by Retail News Editor John Walshe.

18

Shop Profile

A significant revamp at Barry Gallagher’s Daybreak forecourt store in southwest Donegal helped the shop to realise its full potential.

20

Next Generation Barcodes

QR4More is the new Irish programme preparing the retail industry for the future of barcodes, explains Maria Svejdar, Head of Retail at GS1 Ireland.

22 Yoplait

Yoplait have launched new Petits Filous in Greek-style pouch.

24 Crisps & Snack Foods

Irish consumers love to treat themselves with crisps and snacks, from iconic favourites to new flavour combinations.

26 Recycling

WEEE Ireland have launched a new vape recycling campaign.

27 Amber Leaf

Amber Leaf remains Ireland’s number one RYO brand.

28

Lucozade Energy

Consumers love the refreshing taste of new Lucozade Energy Grafruitti Zero Sugar.

30 Retail News

Interview

Conor Kilduff, Executive Director of Love Irish Food, discusses Irish consumers’ continuing love affair with indigenous brands, the support of Irish retailers, and why Irish food and drink suppliers are better prepared to weather increased costs in 2026.

34

Buying Irish

We reveal the latest statistics, proving how much Irish consumers love homegrown products, with contributions from Love Irish Food (Page 34), Guaranteed Irish (Page 36) and some of the Irish brand innovations guaranteed to excite consumers (Page 40).

44 Bord Bia Bloom

Bord Bia Bloom festival saw the Phoenix Park transformed into the country’s biggest horticulture and food festival.

50

Lidl Kickstart

Lidl are celebrating 10 years of the Kickstart Supplier Development Programme.

Flavoured vape ban will business in retail

A BAN on flavoured vapes might force retailers to no longer stock the category at all. Government proposals have called for nicotine inhaling products to be limited to tobacco flavours.

According to Vincent Jennings, CEO of the Convenience Stores & Newsagents Association (CSNA), tobacco-flavoured vapes represent “less than 3%” of the product line: “97% of people who buy vapes choose to buy ones with flavours. Banning flavours will destroy the entire business of vaping as a product. Nobody will bother stocking it if it’s only going to represent 3%. Vape shops can do it - but it’s not going to be viable for us. There is cost involved in stocking and managing a product. This would not be worth stocking.”

The Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill has completed Committee Stage in the Dáil and is before the Houses of the Oireachtas, in parallel to another piece of legislation which seeks to ban single-use vapes. The amended rules, which include a restriction on colours and imagery on vape devices and packaging, follow World Health Organisation advice which suggests exotic flavours (such as bubble gum, cotton candy and menthol) drive addiction amongst young people.

“There is substantial evidence that flavours play an important role in making these products more appealing to children and young people, influencing both initiation and continued use,” a spokesperson for the Department of

Health told Retail News. “Flavours are often accompanied by descriptive names, branding and product packaging that can further increase their attractiveness and may reduce perceptions of risk among young people.”

CSNA believes the amended bill may eventually be in conflict with European law. In late May 2026, the European Commission opened a public consultation with the intention of updating the Tobacco Products Directive and the Tobacco Advertising Directive. “The directives will be mandatory for each European state,” noted Jennings. “The European Union would say it is not in the best interest to apply a law in advance of a new EU policy. It's a waste of resources. [The Irish state would] have to go back to the drawing board.”

The vaping industry insists their flavoured products help former smokers quit cigarettes. Health institutions such as the NHS in the UK have promoted vapes as a cessation tool. If the only vape flavour available is tobacco, why should a smoker bother quitting?, wondered Jennings: “If we don't use these as harm reduction products, smoking will continue for decades. You need to wean people away from smoking. Vaping products and nicotine pouches are part of the armoury.”

In 2023, the UK’s Department of Health announced, as part of a plan to create a smoke free generation: “Vapes are

substantially less harmful than smoking because they do not contain tobacco, and therefore can be an effective tool in supporting smoking cessation.”

Their Irish equivalent has a different perspective. “While some adult users report a preference for flavoured products, the evidence to date does not clearly demonstrate that flavours improve smoking cessation outcomes,” said Ireland’s Department of Health spokesperson. “Current research suggests flavour restrictions can contribute to reducing youth vaping, particularly when implemented as part of a broader package of measures and supported by effective enforcement.” The Government intends to introduce amendments to the Tobacco Bill in the context of a stop smoking campaign. “This includes the roll-out of free stop smoking medicines, more than doubling the number of clinics across the country, and expanding the peer-led We Can Quit group programme.”

Some retailers are in agreement with government. William Hanley, who owns a SuperValu store in south-west Dublin, is not in opposition to a ban on flavoured vapes in principle, because he does not “see them as a benefit to society”.

Hanley explained: “We don't encourage the sale or promotion of flavoured vapes. Specialist stores will probably be more impacted by a ban than your regular

destroy vape

supermarket. The category initially took off as something that fulfilled a need to give up smoking. Then it evolved into something completely different. I don't support the argument that flavours help people give up. Somebody trying to give up smoking cigarettes… their addiction is to nicotine, not the flavour. I would argue a completely different type of customer is into flavours.”

Vincent Jennings of the CSNA had no

William Hanley, store owner, SuperValu.

objections to elements of the amended bill which propose the prohibition of vape devices that resemble toys or games. “I accept there is no place for any products which appeal subliminally or directly to a child's growing mind. They're not a child's product and they shouldn't be seen as such. The only people who they should be sold to are adults. This is an adult product.”

But even retailers like William Hanley, who do not object to a ban on flavoured vapes, fear the emergence of a black market if a ban was to occur. In Australia, where vaping products can only be legally purchased from pharmacies, four out of every five vapes consumed are illegal, according to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. In Ireland, 38% of all cigarettes in circulation are illegal or untaxed, according to the Revenue Commissioners’ Illegal Tobacco Products Research Survey 2025.

“The price of tobacco has enabled the black markets,” remarked Hanley. “The market for tobacco will probably decline over time because of price, perception, and the health agenda. But when you make things unavailable through normal channels, if people still want them they're

going to get them.”

Jennings added: “Nature abhors a vacuum and we are creating a vacuum.”

At a recent Dáil debate over the amended Tobacco Bill, David Cullinane, Sinn Fein’s health spokesperson, suggested Ireland should follow the lead of New Zealand and restrict the current extensive range of flavoured vapes to a “tight list”. Jennings agreed. “We should allow for a limited range. Is menthol OK? Is mint OK? Is cherry OK? Is watermelon OK? Go through the various possibilities and limit it to around six. Allow people to have choice whereby they can remove themselves safely, satisfactorily, and in an adult fashion, from continued smoking.”

The CSNA chief pointed out the legal age required to purchase tobacco products will be raised from 18 to 21 in 2028 and this could be an alternative opportunity to prevent children from vaping. “If the state treats vaping products in the same way as tobacco, you entirely remove the argument about children having access to it.”

William Hanley contended the health risks around vaping should outweigh business concerns. “A ban will impact my business, but not significantly,” he said. A recent report, published in the journal Frontiers in Oncology, found that people who smoke flavoured vapes “show altered activity” in genes linked with cancer and disease. The Department of Health spokesperson said the amended Tobacco Bill includes provisions to monitor the impact of any restrictions on vaping and smoking among both young people and adults – alongside provisions “to amend the list of allowed flavours as new evidence presents”.

Taoiseach responds to RGDATA concerns on costs

AN TAOISEACH, Micheál Martin TD, said he is aware of the challenges Irish enterprises are facing, acknowledging that "the cost of doing business has been a significant issue for businesses in recent years, driven by wider inflationary pressures, particularly energy costs”.

In a letter to RGDATA, in response to a letter penned by Tara Buckley, RGDATA Director General, following the fuel protests and the challenges they presented for forecourt retailers and detailing the ongoing challenges of business costs and competitiveness, the Taoiseach stressed that “the Government is very conscious of the significant impact the fuel protests had on retailers, particularly those operating forecourts. More broadly, I assure you we are aware of the challenges Irish enterprises are facing.”

He noted how rising costs have been driven primarily by wider inflationary pressures, particularly energy costs, highlighting the “temporary and targeted” measures introduced to reduce fuel prices, and stressing that the Government “continues to actively monitor cost developments across all sectors of the economy”.

The Taoiseach stressed that the Cost of Business Forum Report would be given serious consideration by the Government and would impact on the measures that Government will take to assist SME businesses: “The Cost of Business Report will receive careful consideration and will inform measures that support competitiveness and reduce costs for businesses.”

Inflation eases slightly as summer sales soar

TAKE-HOME grocery sales in Ireland increased by 2.8% over the four weeks to May 17, 2026 compared to the same period last year, according to the latest data from Worldpanel by Numerator. Pressure on shoppers eased, with like-for-like grocery prices up 5.5%, marking the slowest rate of increase since July 2025.

Shoppers made fewer trips to stores this period, averaging 22.8 visits, one fewer than the previous month. This coincides with the start of summer holiday season, which typically sees shoppers spend more time outdoors, making the most of the longer days.

Branded goods were the standout performer, growing 9.4% in value and adding €159 million this period, with value share just under 50%. Own label grew more modestly at 2.7%, adding €46.6 million. Premium ranges also held their own, up 3.4% in value and leading all ranges on pack growth at 6.6%.

Summer food and drink categories benefited from the May bank holiday weekend, with shoppers spending an additional €2.5 million on ice creams and sorbets, table sauces up €700,000, and antipasti growing in value spend on the sales on last month, increasing by €408,000.

sales growth of 4.3% year on year. Dunnes shoppers visited more often, with trips up 2.6% versus last year, contributing an additional €22.3 million to overall performance.

“Irish shoppers stocked up in anticipation of the sun appearing and bought across key summer categories as they got in the mood for the first summer bank holiday,” noted Eimear Faughnan, Head of Retail at Worldpanel by Numerator (Ireland). “Suncare was a clear signal of that, with purchase frequency up 6.9% on the previous month and an additional 308,000 packs purchased.”

Online sales rose 16.8% year on year, with the channel now contributing almost €253 million to the take-home grocery market over the 12-week period. New shoppers contributed over €25 million to the channel. The highest value growth over the latest 12 weeks came from families with older children turning to the online channel to fit around their busy lives, with an increase of €22 million compared to a year ago (Note: older families are defined as aged over 45, 3+ in household and children aged 16+).

Over the latest 12 weeks, Dunnes hold 23.8% market share, with

Tesco are just behind, with 23.7% of the market, enjoying yearon-year value growth of 6.1%. New shoppers to Tesco stores contributed an additional €12 million to overall performance.

SuperValu hold 19.6% and grew their share by 0.2 percentage points on the previous 12 weeks. SuperValu lead all major retailers on trip frequency, averaging 24.5 visits over the latest 12 weeks. New shopper arrivals contributed an additional €18.6 million to performance.

Lidl’s market share grew to 14.8%, up 0.4 percentage points versus the last period, reaching a new share record for the retailer over the latest 12 weeks. Value growth for the retailer was 11.7%. Increased volume per trip and new shoppers contributed a combined €47 million.

Aldi grew their share by 0.1 percentage points to 11% market share. New shopper arrivals drove an additional €9.7 million in sales.

Food and drink manufacturers facing ongoing cost pressures

FOOD Drink Ireland, the Ibec group representing the food and drink sector, has published its latest Business Monitor, highlighting the continued challenges facing Ireland’s food and drink manufacturing sector, as global and domestic price indicators point to a worsening inflationary environment.

The underlying cost base for Irish food processors remains elevated, driven by persistent volatility in global commodity markets, escalating energy costs, and sustained pressure on agricultural inputs. The latest data from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) shows that the overall FAO Food Price Index has reached its highest level since early 2023.

Paul Kelly, Director, Food Drink Ireland, said that cost pressures facing manufacturers included elevated input costs for raw materials, energy and transport, as well as continued volatility in packaging inputs, and lag effects between input cost increases and wholesale price adjustments.

“The reality for food and drink manufacturers is one of escalating costs and pressure on margins,” he stressed. “Global commodity markets continue to be volatile, agricultural inputs remain elevated, consumer sentiment is dropping, and businesses are operating in a highly competitive international environment. Ensuring that Ireland’s food processing sector remains competitive will require a continued focus on managing input costs and supporting investment across the supply chain.”

Paul Kelly, Director, FDI.

GIY call for urgent national food education roll-out

AS the primary school year enters its final weeks, Grow It Yourself (GIY) are calling on the Government to expand practical food education in schools, amid growing concern about the impact of ultra-processed foods, poor diets, and declining food literacy on children’s health and wellbeing.

The organisation says Irish children are becoming increasingly disconnected from where food comes from, how it is grown and what healthy, whole food actually looks like, at the very moment ultra-processed foods (UPFs) now account for an estimated 46% of the Irish diet - children can now more quickly recognise fast food logos before they know where a carrot comes from.

GIY have revealed that more than 200 primary schools are currently waiting to access their ‘Grow at School’ programme, which uses food growing and hands-on learning to help children reconnect with real food, nature and healthy eating habits. The programme is currently active in approximately 650 schools nationwide, but GIY says demand is now far outstripping available funding and capacity.

The organisation is calling on the Government to commit €3 million over four years to expand the programme to reach 75% of Irish primary schools — a cost of approximately €7 per child. GIY says the investment would represent a tiny fraction of the Department of Social Protection’s annual spend on school meals, while helping children develop the knowledge, confidence and habits needed to make healthier food choices throughout their lives.

Appointment at FSAI

THE Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) have announced the appointment of Dr Ciara Walsh as Chief Specialist in Food Science and Technology. Dr Walsh will lead, develop and manage the multidisciplinary food science and technology team in the FSAI. Along with the team, Dr Walsh will focus on ensuring consumer health protection through the development of scientific and technical supports for food inspection and the food industry. She will also provide leadership and support in the delivery of food safety and regulatory functions in Ireland.

Dr Walsh has over 25 years of experience in food science and technology across academia, research, and regulatory environments. Prior to her appointment, she spent more than 12 years at Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) in academic positions, most recently serving as Senior Engagement Manager in Food and Health, where she led a number of strategic university initiatives. Her appointment marks a return to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, where she previously worked for seven years in biotechnology. Her prior experience also includes three years as a Newman Postdoctoral Scholar at the Centre for Food Safety in University College Dublin (UCD) and four years as a Walsh PhD Fellow in Teagasc, Ashtown.

Dr Walsh’s focus will be to lead on the scientific and technical work in food science and technology, including novel foods, food allergens, food fraud, emerging risks and genetically modified organisms. She will engage with Government departments, including the Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, as well as official agencies and

The call comes amid growing concern among health experts and educators about the impact of ultra-processed diets on children’s physical health, mental wellbeing and long-term relationship with food, alongside rising levels of anxiety, disconnection from nature and poor wellbeing among young people.

“If we are serious about improving children’s long-term health, resilience and relationship with food, then food education has to become a core part of school life, not an optional extra,” argued GIY founder and broadcaster Mick Kelly.

GIY founder and broadcaster Mick Kelly with primary school children taking part in the ‘Grow At School’ programme 2026.

the food industry, to support compliance with food legislation. She will also represent the FSAI at national, EU and international meetings, support the work of the wider food science and technology team, and assist with risk assessment activity within the FSAI.

Welcoming Dr Walsh to her new role, Greg Dempsey, Chief Executive, FSAI, noted: “Ciara brings extensive experience across food science, research and regulation, which will support the FSAI’s work in protecting consumer health and ensuring compliance within an increasingly complex food regulatory environment. Her experience across academia, State agencies and the food industry will support the organisation’s work in key areas such as novel foods, food allergens, food fraud and emerging risks. I am confident that Ciara will make a valuable contribution to the work of the FSAI.”

Irish SMEs set to drive Ireland’s energy transition

SMALL and mid-sized Irish businesses are emerging as a key driver of Ireland’s energy transition, with strong appetite for practical sustainability investments such as solar, renewable electricity, and energy efficiency measures, according to the inaugural Flogas Sustainability Report. While geopolitical instability and volatile energy markets are accelerating interest in secure energy solutions, concerns around upfront costs and return on investment continue to hold some businesses back from acting faster.

The report highlights that solar is the top priority for Irish SMEs, with 34% of mid-sized and 31% of small businesses planning to adopt the technology. This appetite for solar is moving rapidly toward reality; nearly half (46%) of mid-sized firms planning to transition expect to have solar panels installed this year. Furthermore, to overcome the financial barriers, 'Solar-as-aService' has emerged as a major trend, with 72% of mid-sized companies now considering this model to meet their energy goals.

The findings come at a time when solar is playing an increasingly visible role in Ireland’s wider energy transition, particularly at a time of extremely unpredictable energy markets. Analysis by Baringa, commissioned by Wind Energy Ireland, found that solar power in Ireland displaced almost 188 million cubic metres of gas from the generation mix and avoided costs in gas and carbon emissions costs valued at €94 million last year.

The nationwide study, conducted among 300 business decisionmakers in the Republic of Ireland by iReach Insights on behalf of Flogas, found that transitioning to renewable energy is now a critical component of their business strategy. Indeed, sustainability is now firmly embedded in corporate strategy, with 92% of large businesses and 91% of medium-sized businesses considering it important overall and 61% of large companies describing it as “very important”.

The report reveals a significant untapped appetite for Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (CPPAs), provided businesses are given the right guidance. While awareness of these arrangements remains an obstacle, consideration significantly increases once

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the mechanics and long-term price certainty of a CPPA are explained. This is particularly evident in the retail and hospitality sectors, where 48% of businesses say they are likely to consider a CPPA. Biomethane remains a niche but emerging option, particularly among larger energy users and manufacturing businesses. The research found that 15% of large businesses already use biomethane or renewable gas, while 26% of Pharma & Manufacturing firms are planning or considering it.

The report also highlights the practical considerations shaping the pace of change for businesses. Upfront cost remains the primary factor influencing decision-making across all business sizes, cited by 62% of respondents. This underlines the importance of clear guidance, trusted advice and greater visibility on long-term value and return on investment.

“This research shows Irish businesses are motivated and ready to act, particularly given the current uncertain outlook in energy markets, but they are consistently seeking practical, affordable pathways,” said John Rooney, Managing Director at Flogas.

Lidl Ireland get behind the fight for Katie Taylor

LIDL Ireland have been announced as the Title Event Partner for Katie Taylor’s fairytale ending to her storied boxing career, as Croke Park hosts her last fight on September 5. Katie will defend her WBO, WBA, IBF and Ring Magazine titles and fights for the vacant WBC Super Lightweight Championship in a historic

Undisputed clash against France’s undefeated Flora Pili. Lidl Ireland are getting in the ring to support Katie as she fulfils her ambition to bring female boxing to Croke Park and break barriers in elevating female sport. In a further show of support, Lidl Ireland also confirmed a brand new three-year ambassador deal with Taylor to 2029.

“For more than a decade we have championed female sport in Ireland through our partnership with the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) and we’re very much recognised across the country for breaking barriers, pushing boundaries and elevating female sport to the position it so rightly deserves,” noted Robert Ryan, Lidl Ireland CEO. “There’s no question that Katie Taylor is the greatest athlete Ireland has ever seen and this clash will be the defining fight the country has been waiting for. This is the fight that fans have to see and we’re very proud to help provide that visibility and that platform.

“Our decade-long work in supporting the LGFA has always been to elevate the sport and its players and we’re very proud to further that cause and 'Get Behind the Fight’ for Katie at Croker - a legendary fighter, an iconic venue and a defining moment for Irish female sport.”

Supermarkets score well in Ireland Reputation Index

SUPERMARKETS have scored highly on the Ireland Reputation Index 2026. Based on the views of over 5,000 people, and carried out over the first three months of the year, the index provides a snapshot of the reputation strength of 100 of Ireland’s most important organisations.

Aldi was the top-performing supermarket, coming in at fifth place overall, with Lidl in 11th place, Tesco in 15th place, Dunnes Stores in 18th place, and SuperValu in 28th. Other notable companies in the top 100 include Circle K (63), Centra (72), Spar (81), and Maxol (89).

Niall O’Connor, Country Managing Director, Aldi Ireland, was delighted with their performance: “Being named Ireland’s most reputable supermarket is an honour and a reflection of the unwavering dedication and passion of our store teams, suppliers,

Niall O’Connor, Country Managing Director, Aldi Ireland.

and business partners. Every day, they go above and beyond to provide exceptional value, quality, and service to Aldi shoppers.

“Over the past year, we have remained focused on what matters most: delivering value for customers while strengthening our commitment to the communities we serve,” he continued. “Our work with charity partners such as Barnardos continues to make a real difference, supporting the most vulnerable and championing causes that are close to our customers' hearts.”

At the top of the list were Credit Unions, for the fourth consecutive year, with the IRFU in second place, and An Post in third.

This year’s Reputation Index also included noticeable improvements across a wide range of sectors. Retail improved by +3.2 reputation points, communications and media (+2.1), while airlines and aerospace increased by +4.9 reputation points, sporting bodies (+3.8), and public services bodies increased by an average of +1.9.

“From our 2026 study the message is clear – reputation matters from the boardroom to the frontline,” noted Alan Tyrrell, CEO of The Reputations Agency. “The evidence shows that organisations with an Excellent reputation score are 19 times more likely to earn the public’s willingness to buy than organisations in the poor reputation tier.

“What also stands out from this year’s findings is that the strongest reputations are not built by chance,” he added. “Leading organisations consistently contribute positively to society, operate with integrity, deliver high-quality products and services, and are led by strong, focused leadership teams. Reputation is earned through actions, consistency and trust over time.”

Retailers encouraged to enter North–South Awards

RETAIL entrepreneurs have been encouraged to enter the North–South Business Cooperation Awards, a major initiative designed to celebrate and support cross-border entrepreneurship and encourage start-ups on the island of Ireland, created by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, creator and owner of the easy family of brands and the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation.

Following the success of the inaugural programme, the Awards will once again provide a total prize fund of €500,000 to entrepreneurs operating across the island of Ireland. The Awards recognise ambitious businesses that are building commercial links between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and contributing to economic cooperation across the island.

“These Awards represent more than recognition for ambitious entrepreneurs - they are about encouraging deeper economic cooperation across the island of Ireland,” noted Sir Stelios HajiIoannou. “Businesses working together across borders create jobs, build trust and contribute to stronger and more connected communities.

“The response to the inaugural Awards demonstrated the enormous entrepreneurial talent that exists across the island and the appetite for greater North-South collaboration. I look forward to meeting this year’s finalists and celebrating businesses that are helping to shape a stronger all-island economy.”

The Awards will culminate in a high-profile ceremony at Castle Leslie Estate, Co. Monaghan, on October 28.

Applications are now open for cross-border business entrepreneurs that meet the criteria. Full details and entry forms are available at www.stelios.ie and www.stelios.foundation

Pictured at the launch of the North–South Business Cooperation Awards are (l-r): William Haire, former Northern Ireland Civil Service leader and Board Member Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Alliance; Sam Shephard, founder of Juice Jar and Gold Award winner of the inaugural 2025 Awards; and Ian Jeffers, Chief Executive of Co-operation Ireland and (on screen) Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou.

Ballygowan develop circular bottle using 100% DRS-sourced recycled PET

BALLYGOWAN, Britvic Ireland’s Natural Mineral Water brand, have successfully manufactured Ireland’s first ‘circular bottle’ in a trial at their Newcastle West production line, using recycled content fully sourced through Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). Through a collaboration with Re-turn, the operator of Ireland’s DRS, Britvic Ireland secured a dedicated batch of Irish recycled PET and this material has now been trialled on the Ballygowan production line to produce what is believed to be Ireland’s first truly circular PET bottle. Pictured are Yvonne Kennedy, Quality Specialist; Sian Young, Sustainable Business & Corporate Affairs Director, Britvic Ireland; Patrick O’Donovan TD, Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport; and Stephen Walsh, Senior Public Relations Executive, Re-Turn.

Lidl Ireland open Baltinglass store

LIDL Ireland recently opened the doors of their brand-new €10 million state-of-the-art store in Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow, creating 22 new permanent jobs. This store is a huge milestone for the locality, having received mammoth support from over 1,500 local residents who campaigned to bring Lidl to the town. Wicklow LGFA star and Baltinglass local Ella Parke officially cut the ribbon and greeted shoppers as they enjoyed opening day festivities. The modernised store features a spacious 1,420 square metre sales floor, offering a premier shopping experience equipped with self-checkouts, two Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) machines, an off-licence, customer restrooms with baby changing facilities, and the popular in-store bakery. Pictured at the official opening are Store Manager Mark Shannon, Ella Park and Niall Murray, Regional Managing Director at Lidl Ireland.

Fyffes finds Ireland’s Fittest School in Galway

COUNTY Galway’s Caltra National School has been crowned ‘Ireland’s Fittest School 2026’, following its participation in a twomonth competition, in which hundreds of schools from all over Ireland, north and south, took part. The grand final, which took place at the Athlone International Arena, saw four finalist schools contest for a prize package which included €8,000 worth of sports equipment. Supported by Irish fruit importer Fyffes and tracked online, the purpose of the competition, now in its fifth year, is to promote the importance of exercise, fitness and healthy eating amongst young people. Fyffes Senior Marketing Executive Áine McElroy; Chief Marketing Officer, Adriano Di Dia; and Head of Marketing UK and Ireland, Emma Hunt-Duffy, are pictured with Irish Olympian David Gillick (centre), Irish fitness trainer Sharon Flanagan (right) and the young pupils from Galway’s Caltra National School.

Kerry Dairy Ireland becomes Kinisla

KERRY Dairy Ireland, the €1.4 billion end-to-end dairy business behind market-leading brands such as Golden Cow, Coleraine and Strings and Things’ Cheestrings, have unveiled their new corporate identity under the name Kinisla. The new name draws inspiration from both kinship and island identity, reflecting the company’s deep connection to its people, farming heritage and Irish roots, while signalling a bold, outward-looking future. As part of their long-term growth strategy, the business is launching a €300 million, five-year investment plan across their Consumer Foods and Nutritional Ingredients business divisions. The investment will fuel growth by supporting manufacturing innovation, operational scale and sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, while creating more than 100 new roles across central functions, innovation and commercial operations over the next 12 to 24 months.

Aldi open revamped Fermoy store

ALDI Ireland have officially reopened their store in Fermoy, Co. Cork, following a €4.2 million upgrade and expansion, making it bigger, brighter, and a better experience for local shoppers. The store on Dublin Road originally opened in 2012 and was closed for six weeks to facilitate the refurbishment works. The newly expanded store includes the addition of up to five new permanent jobs and a new bakery, serving freshbaked treats daily. Retail floor space has expanded by more than 20% from 965 to 1,171 square metres. “The €4.2 million investment isn’t just about upgrading the store; it’s about creating a better shopping experience for our customers, while continuing to offer great value,” noted Eoin Desmond (pictured), Aldi Fermoy Store Manager. “Having worked with Aldi since 2014, I’ve seen first-hand how much we’ve grown and I’m especially proud to be reopening in a town where my family and I have made our home.”

Spar and Eurospar extend Team Ireland partnership

SPAR and Eurospar have announced their sponsorship of the Sport Ireland Campus Kids Camps, extending their partnership with Team Ireland. This support for the sport camps that cater for all ages, standards and levels of interest, represents Spar and Eurospar’s long-standing commitment in championing sport from grassroots through to elite level. Taking place at the world class Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin 15, the Kids Camps will give children the opportunity to experience a wide range of sports in a high performance environment, while also meeting and getting tips from elite Irish athletes. Spar and Eurospar ambassadors Team Ireland Ambassadors Kate O’Connor, silver medallist at the World Athletics Championship, and Olympic gold medallist rower Fintan McCarthy, are pictured alongside Colin Donnelly, Spar Sales Director; Peter Sherrard, OFI CEO; Dr. Una May, Sport Ireland CEO; and Peter Dwan, Eurospar Sales Director,

Nestlé Ireland lend ‘Helping Hands’ to Barretstown

NESTLÉ Ireland and Nespresso joined forces for the annual ‘Helping Hands’ volunteer day as part of their three-year partnership with charity partner, Barretstown, Ireland’s largest provider of psychosocial care to seriously ill children and young adults. Now into its second year, a team of over 55 Nestlé Ireland employees joined forces at the Barretstown campus in Co. Kildare to help the team with an extensive campus maintenance programme, from painting fences, cleaning accommodation to weeding and gardening. “Our partnership with Barretstown provides us with an opportunity to give back and to make a positive impact in the lives of people and communities,” noted Kieran Conroy, Country Manager, Nestlé Ireland.

Lidl launch Heart of Gold campaign

LIDL Ireland have launched their Heart of Gold campaign for 2026, calling on customers across the country to support Family Carers Ireland this June. The campaign launch comes as a Lidl Plus survey of shoppers, who identified as family carers, highlighted the hidden pressure experienced by many people providing care. Among those respondents, 63% said they had felt overwhelmed and at ‘breaking point’ in the last month. Throughout June, Lidl customers can support the campaign by buying Heart of Gold pins for just €2 across their 191 stores, with 100% of proceeds going to Family Carers Ireland. Special Heart of Gold flower bouquets are also available in-store, with funds raised helping the charity to provide vital services for carers, including respite care, counselling, peer support groups, crisis intervention and its National Freephone Careline. TV personality, Holly Carpenter is pictured with Sharon Foley CEO of Family Carers Ireland and Maeve McCleane Chief People Officer, Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland.

Hub Packaging acquire Clonmel business

NEWRY-based packaging supplier Hub Packaging have acquired Clonmel’s Faleen Sales Ltd, marking a further step in their expansion across Ireland. Completed in April for an undisclosed value, the deal strengthens Hub Packaging’s presence in the Munster region and expands their access to the meat processing sector through Faleen Sales’ established customer base and product expertise in strapping and packaging accessories. “The acquisition of Faleen Sales Ltd marks an important step in our all-Ireland growth journey and strengthens our ability to support customers with a wider reach, deeper expertise and continued investment in service,” said David Quigley, Chief Revenue Officer. Pictured are (l-r): Russel Brennan, Hub Packaging Commercial Director; CEO Andrew Ward; and Director of Sustainability & Governance Julian Coldrick.

Irish seafood leaders explore innovation

SEVEN leading Irish seafood businesses gained insights into cuttingedge research and development at Kerry’s Global Innovation Centre in Naas, Co. Kildare, as part of the BIM (Bord Iascaigh Mhara) Seafood Innovation Programme. During the visit, participants learned about innovation frameworks needed to scale value-added products and accelerate growth in increasingly competitive international markets. Participants met with Kerry’s food and innovation team, including sensory experts, research and development scientists, market insights and culinary teams. Keohane Seafoods, Atlanfish, Bantry Bay Premium Seafoods, Oceanpath, The Garvin Seafoods Company, Achill Oysters and Atlantis Seafoods are taking part in this year’s BIM Seafood Innovation Programme.

Gala crown Ireland’s Best Bakers

GALA Retail and Virgin Media Television have crowned the winners of Ireland’s Best Baker and Junior Baker of the Year 2026, following a nationwide search celebrating Ireland’s home baking talent. Vincent Kelly from Douglas, Co. Cork, was named Ireland’s Best Baker 2026 for his traditional brown bread, while Lucy Carroll from Moate, Co. Westmeath, took the Junior Baker of the Year title for her lemon drizzle cake. The competition featured a total prize fund of €4,500 and was supported by O’Brien Ingredients, Ireland’s leading bakery ingredients supplier. The competition was promoted across Virgin Media Television’s Ireland AM, while activation across Gala Retail’s network of more than 220 independently owned stores helped drive awareness, engagement and entries nationwide. Ireland’s Best Baker winners Lucy Carroll and Vincent Kelly, are pictured with judges Cassie Stokes and Catherine Leyden, and Gary Desmond, CEO, Gala Retail.

Retailers urged to check ID this summer

SHOW Me I.D – Be Age OK have launched their summer campaign to reinforce the importance of age checks when selling age-restricted products, including alcohol, tobacco and vapes, nicotine pouches and lotto products, throughout what is expected to be a busy trading period. The campaign was launched by Mayor of Waterford, Cllr Seamus Ryan, at Londis Cleaboy, Waterford, alongside Store General Manager, Edgar Kolodziej. The free Show Me I.D programme provides retail and hospitality staff with practical guidance on age verification and the responsible sale of age-restricted products. The free online training module helps staff to recognise when to request identification, identify acceptable forms of ID and manage situations where a customer may be underage.

Lidl jumps to attention

Moo’d and Mikado join forces for Moo’kado

MOO’D Ice Cream and Jacob’s Mikado have finally made it official. Introducing the Moo’kado, the limitededition summer romance nobody saw coming, but everyone is talking about.

The Moo’kado brings together Moo’d’s signature whipped Irish ice cream and the iconic Jacob’s Mikado biscuit, with Mikado’s unmistakable jammy, fluffy and coconutty flavours paired with Moo’d’s creamy whipped ice cream, raspberry sauce, biscuit crumbs, mini mallows and topped with the iconic Mikado biscuit. Available now in selected Centra and SuperValu stores nationwide for six weeks, the Moo’kado is here for a good time, not a long time.

“Bringing Jacob’s Mikado together with Moo’d Ice Cream is a playful celebration of two much-loved Irish favourites,” noted Eimear Gorman, Marketing Director at Valeo Foods.

POLE vault world record holder Armand “Mondo” Duplantis mastered an extraordinary challenge in Stockholm, living up to the title ‘Jump of the Year’. Challenged by Lidl, the exceptional athlete and holder of 15 world records did not jump over a traditional bar, but over a 5.5-metre-high, 12-metre-wide, and 30-centimetre-deep wall of products, built from the discounter’s extensive own-brand assortment. The impressive wall consisted of more than 3,000 Lidl products, and Armand cleared it on his third attempt.

M&S earn System1’s highest score for creativity

THE latest ‘Farm to Foodhall’ ad campaign from M&S Ireland has achieved a perfect 5.9 Star Rating from creative effectiveness platform System1, underlining the long-term value of consistent brand building, a principle highlighted in The Creative Dividend, System1’s joint report with Effie. System1’s Star Rating predicts long-term brand growth by measuring consumers’ emotional response to advertising, with scores of 5.0 and above classified as ‘exceptional’. Only 1% of ads tested by System1 have achieved a Star Rating of 5.0 or higher. The success of the new M&S ad, which features Irish celebrity chef Mark Moriarty sampling strawberries at one of M&S’s partner farms, follows four years of high scores for the supermarket’s ‘Farm to Foodhall’ collection.

The future for convenience retail

A stellar panel of experienced independent retailers discussed the future of convenience retailing in Ireland at the CSNA AGM and Conference, including the potential impact of the proposed ban on vape flavours, the changing nature of the business and how c-stores can ensure their survival in a changing retail market.

The CSNA AGM and Conference took place in late May in the Castleknock Hotel, Dublin. As part of a varied array of speakers, Retail News Editor John Walshe chaired a panel discussion on some of the biggest issues facing retailers across Ireland in 2026. A stellar panel of retailers included store owners from right across the island, urban and rural, forecourt and suburban, with a wealth of retail experience. They included:

• Seamus Griffin, CEO of the Griffin Group, one of the largest independent retail groups in the country, who have been serving customers in Dublin via their store network for almost 70 years.

• Sara Orme, CSNA President and owner of a very successful Daybreak store in

the village of Delvin, Co. Westmeath.

• Anna McDonagh from Cill Chiarán in Connemara, whose family have run a grocery store in the Gaeltacht village for over a century.

Ruaidhri O’Hare, Managing Director of the O’Hare Group, who own a range of stores across Cork, Kilkenny and Dublin, including a mixture of forecourt, town centre and suburban stores.

They began by discussing the changing nature of convenience retailing in Ireland, particularly the rise in importance of food solutions and food-to-go in-store, which has become a big driver of footfall and turnover. When it comes to food, the three most important concerns are quality, freshness and competitive pricing, according to Sara Orme. “With prices having risen quite a bit in even the last six months, you can fall into the trap of trying to buy the cheapest ingredients from your supplier, but I think you have to find a happy medium between good quality at a price point your customer will be happy to pay.”

She also stressed the importance of being able to adapt your food menu quickly, for instance adding more cold salad options on hot days.

Sara highlighted the importance of keeping up with trends across food and drink products, citing the example of the soft drinks cabinet, which now features protein-based, electrolyte-based, fibre-

based and plant-based drinks, as well as more traditional soft drink options. “It's about adapting, changing, giving the consumer what they want, in real time, in terms of both quality and price,” she summarised.

An all-day food offering

Where once convenience stores competed with each other and perhaps with the local coffee shop for lunchtime trade, now they are competing with everybody from fast food outlets to more established restaurants that offer take-away and delivered food. Indeed, the in-store food

offering has grown from primarily a lunchtime trade to an all-day offering, from breakfast right through to dinner. Ruaidhri O’Hare pointed to the example of big American fast food chains that have begun launching in Ireland in recent months (including Wendy’s and Taco Bell). “They’re already coming here, and more will come,” he predicted. Irish retailers, he believes, will continue to differentiate their offering by buying in their own product and adding value: he believes that a lot of retailers will bread their own chicken, for example, as they premiumise and add value to the core ingredient.

Ruaidhri feels that the second half of 2026 will prove challenging, with rising interest rates and increased pressure on costs tempting some retailers to buy cheaper ingredients in an attempt to maintain margin. This, he believes, would be a mistake: “People are happy to pay for something that’s good, so I think it’s about making your core ingredient more premium.”

Seamus Griffin agreed: “Customers want good quality food but they want to get it at the right price. They don't want to be gouged, but they will pay for good quality.”

Getting your food offer right, including all day offerings from breakfast through lunch and on to evening meals, is crucial. Partnering with an online ordering/delivery platform could make all the difference, he advised. “While they take a percentage of your margin, it can be very important to have them there, to offer that to your customers,” he advised.

The Griffin Group were amongst the first retailers in the country to introduce the

Seamus Griffin, CEO, Griffin Group, believes that the proposed ban on flavoured vapes will have a profound impact on the retail trade.

CSNA AGM & Conference

Subway brand into their stores, which has proven hugely successful, and they are currently examining the introduction of a pizza brand in-store: “We're constantly looking at how we can get more turnover, how we can get it differently rather than just through the traditional means.”

Anna McDonagh too believes that constantly updating your offering is the key to continued success. “We put in our deli a number of years ago, and if we didn't do that at the time, I don't think our doors would be open today. So we have to keep adapting and changing,” Anna says. “We've seen the devastation of stores closing and what it can do to a village.”

Coping with rising costs

Rising costs are a huge concern for every shop owner, with margins being squeezed ever tighter across the board, from energy costs to insurance, fuel charges and, of course, the cost of labour. So how can you mitigate against these rising costs while still trying to maintain a profitable business?

Seamus Griffin believes that the key to surviving and thriving in the convenience environment is to differentiate yourself from the competition: “You want to be standing out from the crowd. I think if you do that, certainly from the point of view of your food offering, people will travel for good food.”

While acknowledging the impact of rising costs on the business, from labour costs associated with auto-enrolment to mandatory sick pay [“Some staff members regard sick pay as an extra week’s holidays.”], Seamus pointed out the benefits of affinity deals, such as those offered by the CSNA or by symbol groups, as a way to claw some of that expense back when it comes to services.

One piece of impending legislation, however, the forthcoming ban on flavoured vapes, will have a devastating effect on retailers across the country, he predicted: “The problem is that the UK aren't banning flavours, they're not introducing plain packaging, so it's just going to drive massive footfall into the black market. We have a huge problem coming down the tracks in 2028 when this flavour ban comes in.

“While it may already be too late, I would certainly suggest to everybody in the room that they get in contact with their politicians and really look at this very closely, because I reckon of the estimated 5,500 retail outlets within the country, 10% of them, would close. It is that stark.”

Crime & security

Crime and security have become headline issues in recent years, particularly for stores located in urban areas. Despite all the attention on this issue, there has not been a drastic improvement, the panel believe.

“There is higher visibility of Gardaí on the streets in central Cork City, which gives a sense of security to the staff, but shoplifting is still a massive, massive problem,” explained Ruaidhri.

He stressed that the profile of shoplifter has also changed, as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite, pushing more individuals to desperate acts, “people who

wouldn't have dreamed of taking something without paying for it in the past”.

Ruaidhri is nervous that the forthcoming Defamation Act goes far enough in protecting retailers and their staff from approaching a suspected shoplifter instore. “We have a little bit more protection in the law to make a reasonable approach to somebody if we think they haven't paid for items but we still feel on very shaky ground,” he admits. “We've been sued numerous times for false accusations by people who have robbed businesses in the past.”

He believes that the law needs to make clear to retailers what their rights are when

it comes to protecting their stock and their livelihood.

Given the high cost of security, he suggested the introduction of some form of state aid for static security in retail businesses: “When you put private security on the shop floor, you're doing the taxpayer a favour because if you're preventing half a dozen shoplifting incidents or minor antisocial issues, that means a Garda is not being called away from a more serious crime.”

One of Ruaidhri’s biggest bugbears is the lack of consistency in his dealings with reporting crime to the Gardaí, where some members of the force are better at following up than others. He also feels that the fact that retailers are sometimes not contacted when a case they have taken is before the courts is hugely unfair: “We were the victim of a theft. No matter how small it is, if it's been pursued all the way and you've taken the time to make a statement etc, someone should let you know.”

Another point raised by CSNA CEO Vincent Jennings on the radio the day before the Conference is that even when a judge does find someone guilty of shoplifting, they often recommend that the guilty party pay the money into the ‘poor box’ and not to the retailer who is at the loss of the money in the first instance. The CSNA have been in contact with Fine Gael TD Barry Ward on this issue, who has promised to raise it with the Department of Justice.

The Retailer Discussion Panel provided a lively debate, with regular contributions from audience members.

Insurance premiums: a rising concern While the Alliance for Insurance Reform have had significant wins in recent years in terms of reducing the payouts for personal injury claims, anecdotally we are still waiting to see a corresponding reduction in premiums.

A quick straw-poll of the retailers at the conference revealed that the vast majority have not seen a reduction in the cost of

their insurance. For the few that had seen insurance costs reduce, they put it down to substantially less claims against them, often due to spending additional sums on increasing security in-store.

Other CSNA members said they achieved reductions by challenging their broker or insurance company on their initial quote, explaining how the insurance business has been reformed and the risk profile has

CSNA AGM & Conference

reduced, and they subsequently received lower quotes for premiums.

More than a job

For most of the retailers in the room, their store is much more than a job for them and for their customers, it is far more than simply a place to purchase groceries. It is a vital hub of the local community. This is certainly true for Anna McDonagh, the third generation of her family to run the local shop in Cill Chiarán, which has been a crucial part of the local Gaeltacht community for over a century.

She recounted the damage done by Storm Eowyn in January 2025 when the local community was without power for up to two weeks. Anna’s store “lost everything. We lost our backup freezers, all our stock. It was horrendous. And we were going through quite a hard family time as well. We had a member of family in hospital. It was just a really bad time. But our store was the first place that everyone in the village came to, the second we were out of the red alert.”

Issues like this illustrate just how resilient Ireland’s retailers are and how the support of their local community is invaluable. The relationship with the community works both ways, though: on Good Friday, Anna received a phone-call from a local asking if she had aspirin in stock. She knew immediately that somebody in the community was having a heart attack. “I’m the first person they think of, which is a real privilege,” she acknowledged.

Anna’s commitment to the village of Cill Chiarán is evidence that for most convenience store owners, retail is more of a vocation than simply a career. Retailers, however, are not charities and need to make a living from their stores, which as well as providing essential food and drinks, also provide employment, ancillary services (from stamps to bill-pay), and often function as a vital social hub at the heart of the communities they serve.

The road ahead

So, given all the various pressures in terms of increasing costs, additional legislation and squeezed margins, how do all four panellists feel about the future for their stores?

“It's scary looking to the future and the legislation that's coming down the line,” admits Anna. “But while obviously we have to always look ahead, I think we should also turn back and look at what we've come through. There have been times when we didn't think we could come through it, and

etail

we have. And it just shows how strong and resilient retailers are.”

Sara points out some of the changes that have taken place over the last two decades, where some products that brought customers in-store, from bin-tags to solid fuel, are no longer the draws they were thanks to a combination of new technology and legislation. Even the state campaign to provide school lunches to primary schools across the country, while noble, has had an impact.

“Lots of people came in at about 7 o'clock on a Sunday evening because they realised they’d no bread, cheese, yoghurts etc for the school lunches, which meant you were getting a €20 basket shop. That’s not happening anymore,” she said. “While, as a former teacher, I can see the benefits of the school lunch programme, it’s another reason which is taking footfall out of my shop. So, we now have to change the reason why people are coming to our shop. What are we offering? What is, as Seamus said, our point of difference? People always need to eat. People always need to have a treat. So you need to alter what you're selling and give it to them at a good, fair price.”

Ruaidhri believes that international retailing is moving down the road of e-commerce subscription. “Customers will subscribe to their local coffee shop so they don't even have to interact with another person when they walk in the door. But our businesses can be the opposite of that,” he insists. “Big American chains always grew their footprint on the basis of standardisation. Now, they're sitting around boardroom tables thinking about customisation. But what we have in our

locker is we know our customers, so we should be trying to trade on that more: your local connections, your sponsorship with local clubs.”

Irish independent retailers spend a huge amount of money on sponsoring and supporting local sports clubs but they are “very bad about telling that story,” Ruadhri admitted.

Even something as simple as encouraging staff members to use customers’ first names can be a point of difference, exemplifying the excellent customer service provided by local stores across the country, Ruaidhri noted.

The Griffin Group have traded through recessions, through pandemics, and through almost every business environment you can imagine. What does one of the biggest independent retail groups in Dublin do to ensure their continuity?

“We're constantly looking at what's coming down the tracks,” Seamus stressed. “You need to be ahead of the market.”

He pointed out that retailers like Aldi and Lidl have developed a new business model for the Irish market, including in-store bakeries, that Tesco are actively targeting the convenience channel and that Dunnes Stores have done “a magnificent job” on their fresh food offering, so competition for customers is getting harder all the time.

“So you really need to be better than them. You need to be looking at what's coming from a food concept point of view, what's trending. Then, you try to get ahead of it and just offer good customer service,” he concluded. “We all need to make a margin. We can't sell the stuff for nothing. But we can be very clever about how we sell it.”

We listened to what our customers want and designed a completely new shopping experience.

We’ve shaped our shopping experience around what matters most to our customers.

FAST

FAST

This is about surprising and delighting shoppers with a fresher, healthier, more innovative offer. It’s also about bringing independent retailers a dynamic, cost effective retail offer, that delivers above average returns.

That means surprising and delighting shoppers with a fresher, healthier, more innovative offer. And for retailers, it means a cost-effective model that stands out in the market and delivers above average returns.

Shop Profile

A destination store in Donegal

A significant revamp at Barry Gallagher’s Daybreak forecourt store in southwest Donegal helped the shop to realise its full potential.

BARRY Gallagher could see the potential to develop his forecourt shop in Bruckless, Co. Donegal, into a destination location, and partnering with the Daybreak brand has helped him to realise his objective.

The shop and post office on the site in the town of Bruckless, in southwest Donegal (7 kilometres from Killybegs), were originally opened by Barry’s Grandfather. Two decades ago, in 2006, Barry bought the site from his cousin and began trading as a Texaco forecourt, with a store under another symbol group.

Barry always had in his mind the plan to develop the site further, and in 2024, he set about changing the sign over the door, seeking out the right symbol partner to help him put his plan into action.

“I felt there was potential on the site that was not being realised with the old shop,” Barry tells Retail News. “One thing I wanted to do was incorporate a full off-licence into the business, as well as improve the focus on impulse, coffee and food-to-go.”

Daybreak: the perfect partners

Having weighed his options, Barry felt that

Daybreak were the perfect partners to help him to realise his vision: “In advance of the development, we travelled around to a number of locations to see what Daybreak could offer and I knew that this was the perfect partner for me on this project. The first plan I saw for what we could do was really impressive; it had the full off-licence, an increased focus on impulse sales, as well as premium deli and coffee offerings. Coffee can be a tricky thing to get right but the 9 Grams element was exactly the type of upgrade I had in mind.”

Barry signed with Daybreak in October 2024, and quickly got to work on the redevelopment. He decided to keep the shop open during the works, although the deli had to be closed for a little over a week. While the footprint of the building was not changed during the revamp, the entire interior of the shop was overhauled, and the entire project was completed in just eight weeks.

“We needed to keep the shop open so as not to inconvenience our customers,” Barry explains. “Not only that, but since the Post Office was inside the shop, we

had to continue to provide a service for customers; some of the surrounding villages have lost their post offices and we have a duty of care to the people who rely on us.”

Barry is quick to praise the development team from Daybreak: “They approached the project with exactly the right attitude; they were willing to work around our needs and those of our customers and still get the job done right and as quickly as possible.”

Fantastic reaction

The store owner is delighted with the result of the redevelopment, as are his customers.

“When the shop was finished, the reaction from customers was great,” he says. “I thought the new shop looked fantastic, and more importantly, our customers did too. Daybreak had managed to use the space in the shop extremely well. In fact, a lot of our customers thought we had actually made the shop larger, even though the space for grocery had actually decreased a little as we had made the deli bigger and introduced a second coffee machine. I am extremely impressed with what Daybreak

managed to do with the space and so are our customers.”

As well as increasing the size of the deli and improving its offering, a full off-licence was added to the shop. The seating area was increased in size, while the 9 Grams coffee element was also given more space and the Lickety Split ice cream offering was added as well. Since the footprint of the shop was not increased, the space had to come from somewhere and the space given over to grocery was reduced slightly, but Barry made sure that the shop still had an ample grocery offering.

“We have always gotten a lot of basket shopping here, more than the average forecourt shop,” Barry explains, “in particular due to the fact that the post

office is situated in the shop. So, I wanted to make sure that we still had a good selection of the most popular products. I always make sure to use the value cycle on offer from Daybreak and Musgrave to make sure we offer good value for money on the shelves. We don’t compete on a pure price basis with supermarkets, but we offer a much nicer shopping environment and can still offer a good value offering with the support of Daybreak.”

Immediate return on investment

Revenue in the shop very clearly demonstrated an immediate return on Barry’s investment, with sales of impulse, coffee and deli products increasing by nearly 50% immediately. The off-licence

Fact File:

Owner: Barry Gallagher

Location: Bruckless, Co Donegal

Size: 1,800 square feet retail space

No. of staff: 15 full time + part time

Opening Hours: 06:30 – 22:00 Mon – Fri 07:30 – 22:00 Sat, Sun & Bank Holidays

has also helped Barry to maximise the potential that he knew the shop had, while the post office adds yet another reason for people to travel to Barry’s shop from a large catchment area. By offering so many products and services under one roof, Barry and Daybreak have created a destination location for the area.

The redevelopment included a significant increase of the in-store deli, which has already seen a big increase in turnover.

Barry wants to ensure that those who have helped to make the store such a success are recognised: “I would like to thank everyone in Daybreak for their support on this project and their ongoing support since joining the group. I would also like to thank all of staff for all the hard work and effort they put in every day.”

The shop won the Best Customer Service Award at the 2025/26 Daybreak Store of the Year Awards, which clearly demonstrates just how seriously Barry takes customer service. “Having good staff is incredibly important in a shop like ours,” he stresses. “We want to make sure that our customers have the best possible experience in the shop. I respect and support all my staff and expect them to do the same for my customers. Daybreak provides fantastic support for staff training and development and myself and my staff engage wholeheartedly with it. I reimburse staff for the time they spend on training, and their work is incredibly important to making the shop a success.”

Next Generation Barcodes

Are you ready for the future of barcodes?

QR4More is the new Irish programme preparing the retail industry for the future of barcodes, explains Maria Svejdar, Head of Retail at GS1 Ireland.

FOR decades, the barcode has been one of retail’s quietest success stories. Every day, millions of products move through stores, warehouses, distribution centres, and supply chains, powered by that familiar black-and-white symbol.

But today, the barcode is evolving into something much more powerful: a digital gateway connecting products, businesses, and consumers through trusted data. Across global retail markets, businesses are beginning to prepare for the transition from traditional barcodes to QR Codes powered by GS1: smarter, standardsbased 2D barcodes, capable of supporting everything from checkout scanning and traceability to consumer engagement, sustainability information, and digital

product experiences.

And here in Ireland, that journey is beginning too.

QR4More

To help support Irish industry through this transition, GS1 Ireland has launched QR4More, a new industry programme designed to help retailers, brands, suppliers, and technology partners explore the future of connected products together.

QR4More is about helping industry start learning, testing, and preparing in practical, collaborative ways.

Because while Ambition 2027 may still sound distant, the reality is that the transition has already begun.

One smarter barcode, multiple opportunities

At first glance, a QR Code powered by GS1 may look similar to the QR codes consumers already scan every day. But behind the symbol sits something much more significant.

A GS1 Digital Link QR Code combines the trusted product identification capabilities of today’s barcode with the flexibility of the web. That means the same barcode can continue to support retail scanning at checkout, while also connecting consumers and businesses to live digital information online.

For retailers, that could mean:

• more accurate product information;

• faster recalls and traceability;

• enhanced loyalty programmes and promotions;

• improved operational visibility.

For brands and suppliers, it opens new opportunities to:

• connect directly with consumers;

• share trusted product information;

• support sustainability storytelling;

• reduce packaging clutter;

• create richer post-purchase experiences.

And ultimately for consumers, it means easier access to the information they increasingly expect: ingredients, allergens, provenance, recycling guidance, usage instructions, and more, directly from the brand itself.

QR4More: the programme

One of the biggest challenges facing industry right now is uncertainty. Many retailers and suppliers know the transition to 2D barcodes is coming. They are hearing about global initiatives, Digital Product Passports, connected packaging, and changing retailer requirements. But for many businesses, the practical starting point remains unclear.

Next Generation Barcodes

Businesses are beginning to prepare for the transition from traditional barcodes to QR Codes powered by GS1.

The QR4More Programme from GS1 Ireland is designed to provide a practical, collaborative space where businesses can begin exploring the opportunities and implications of QR Codes powered by GS1 in an Irish retail context.

Rather than focusing purely on theory or technical standards, QR4More is centred around awareness, shared learning, pilot projects, industry collaboration, and practical readiness. The programme is open to all stakeholders across the supply chain, from retailers and FMCG brands to own-brand suppliers, packaging companies, regulators and trade associations.

Learning by doing

One of the strongest themes emerging globally around 2D barcode adoption is that businesses do not need to have everything solved before they begin. In fact, many of the most valuable learnings come from small early-stage pilots.

That is a key philosophy behind QR4More: start small, learn safely, scale gradually.

A pilot project does not need to involve thousands of products or a nationwide rollout. It could simply involve a limited range of SKUs, taking advantage of a packaging refresh, a sustainability initiative to be shared, or testing how QR Codes powered by GS1 interact with existing retail systems.

The objective is to help your business understand what works, what creates value, what operational changes may be needed, and critically, what consumers actually engage with.

These insights come from real-world experimentation.

What could a QR4More pilot look like for your business?

One of the reasons QR Codes powered by GS1 are attracting interest is because the opportunities are so varied across different parts of retail.

A grocery brand might use QR codes to

provide:

• allergen information,

• recipes,

• provenance stories,

• sustainability credentials.

A health and beauty brand might use them for: ingredient transparency,

• tutorials,

• authentication,

• refill programmes.

A clothing or homewares supplier might connect consumers to:

• care instructions,

• product origin information, assembly guidance,

• recycling advice.

Retailers are also beginning to explore how QR Codes powered by GS1 could support:

• inventory accuracy,

• product recalls,

• loyalty programmes,

• digital receipts,

• future omnichannel experiences.

The important thing is not to try to do everything immediately but to begin exploring where genuine value exists for your business and your customers.

Retail readiness is about more than scanners

Many retailers are asking an important question: “Can our tills scan QR codes?” Increasingly, the answer is yes. But businesses also need to think about:

product data quality,

• packaging design, digital content,

• customer experience,

• how product information flows across systems and channels.

For brands and suppliers, this learning phase creates an opportunity to review how packaging and digital engagement work together to create “connected products”.

Many organisations are already planning packaging redesigns, sustainability initiatives, or digital transformation projects. QR Codes powered by GS1 can become a natural extension of those existing programmes, rather than a standalone project.

Ireland has an opportunity to lead Ireland’s retail and FMCG sectors are known for strong collaboration, innovation, and close supplier relationships. That creates a real opportunity as the industry prepares for Ambition 2027.

Pioneering Irish businesses have already begun to seize the opportunity to shape how connected products and smarter barcodes work in practice. The organisations that begin exploring now will be the ones best positioned to:

• understand the operational implications, develop internal knowledge,

• strengthen consumer engagement, influence how the next generation of retail experiences develops.

The next step

QR4More is designed to help Irish industry begin that journey together.

GS1 Ireland is now inviting retailers, brands, suppliers, packaging companies, and technology partners to participate in collaborative pilots and readiness discussions throughout 2026.

Whether your organisation is exploring connected packaging, sustainability initiatives, digital product experiences, or simply wants to better understand what Ambition 2027 means in practice, QR4More provides a practical place to start.

Because by 2027, every scan has the potential to deliver far more than a beep at checkout.

It can deliver trusted information, richer consumer experiences, stronger traceability, and smarter retail operations across the entire value chain.

Join QR4More and start your first pilot in 2026.

Contact the GS1 Ireland team at retail@gs1ie.org or book your discovery call today.

Yoplait launch new Petits Filous in Greekstyle pouch

Yoplait Ireland have introduced their first ever Petits Filous Greek Style pouch, fortified with calcium and vitamin D.

YOPLAIT Ireland recently introduced their first ever Petits Filous Greek Style pouch in a bid to support children’s health from a young age.

Fortified with calcium and vitamin D, the new packs aim to meet the growing demand for more nutritious ‘on-the-go’ snacks for families and come in two ‘kid approved’ flavours of Vanilla and Strawberry.

Designed with convenience in mind, the packs can also be kept out of the fridge for up to eight hours, making them ideal for lunchboxes or for snacking on-the-go.

Each multipack contains four x 85g pouches with an RRP of €3.49 per multipack or individually at €0.99 per pouch. The new Petits Filous Greek Style pouches are available in all main retailers this summer, including Tesco, Dunnes Stores and SuperValu.

Delivering taste and nutrition

“Our Petits Filous Greek Style pouches

New Petits Filous Greek Style pouches come in two ‘kid approved’ flavours of Vanilla and Strawberry.

deliver on everything that busy parents want for their children – a creamy, nutritious and healthy snack that delivers on the great flavour and convenience that their kids want,” explained Deirdre Lowry, Brand Director at Yoplait Ireland. “They truly are a credible grab-and-go solution, with Yoplait’s quality assurance of great taste and low sugar. We’re confident that they will appeal to our existing consumers, whilst also appealing to new ones.”

Last year, Yoplait announced details of a new reformulated recipe on leading kids’

even healthier.

brands, Frubes and Petits Filous, to ensure that their products are even healthier, yet still retain the same delicious taste. Indeed, since 2015, Yoplait have improved the health credentials of their kids’ portfolio globally by reducing sugars by 25%.

About Yoplait

Since 1965, the brand affectionately known as ‘the little flower’ has been spreading French dairy know-how throughout the world. Yoplait brands are present in more than 50 countries, and they are the world’s second largest player in fresh dairy products. Yoplait launched in Ireland over 50 years ago. Iconic brands including Petits Filous, Frubes, Wildlife and Yop are now a staple in Irish homes.

“We want everyone to have access to the nutritional benefits and delicious taste of our yogurts,” noted Deirdre Lowry. “We are leaders in fortification and have been adding Calcium and Vitamin D to our kids’ products for 15 years.”

Innovation is part of Yoplait’s DNA, according to Deirdre: “We were the first to launch fruit yoghurt, the first to launch a drinking yoghurt and the first to launch yogurt in a tube.”

Crisps & Snack Foods

Irish consumers love to treat themselves with crisps and snacks, from iconic favourites to new flavour combinations.

The treat is on

THE Irish crisps and snacks market is amongst the most dynamic categories in your store. Consumer demand remains high, and innovation from the biggest players in the sector ensures that crisps and snacks remain top-of-mind with consumers.

Crisps are a staple in many consumers’ shopping baskets, with established brands like Tayto holding iconic status with the Irish consumer, enjoying high levels of brand loyalty, which helps to maintain consistently high sales across convenience stores, supermarkets and forecourts.

While value remains an important concern, Irish consumers are willing to pay more for premium products, innovative flavours and products perceived as healthier or more natural, with categories like hand-cooked crisps, protein-rich products and snacks made from alternative ingredients, such as lentils, gaining in popularity.

Premiumisation remains a defining trend, according to the latest report into the Irish snacks market from Euromonitor International

Health and wellness trends also continue to influence the FMCG market, including the crisps and snacks category. While the concept of indulgence remains vital to the snack market, consumers are also increasingly seeking out products with reduced salt, lower fat content, higher

protein levels, or a ‘healthier’ or ‘cleaner’ ingredient list, with better-for-you snacks showing strong growth.

New innovations, new flavour launches, limited-edition products, and collaborations generate excitement and encourage trial, while local sourcing can also have a real impact, as consumers actively want to support locally produced food and drink brands.

In the convenience sector, impulse purchases remain high, while meal-deal formats that include a crisp or snack brand, have also proven extremely

effective. Multipack and larger sharing bags are particularly popular in larger supermarkets.

Tayto

2026 has started strongly for Tayto, Ireland’s leading crisp and snacks brand, with Q1 delivering standout innovation, high-profile media support, and strong shopper engagement. As Q2 unfolds, that momentum is set to build further, powered by bold launches, high-impact campaigns, and compelling taste credentials.

January saw continued leadership from

The Tayto brand is an Irish icon, beloved of consumers nationwide.

Tayto across both core and emerging snacking segments. Treble Crunch Sweet Chilli strengthened Tayto’s Better For You credentials, delivering bold flavour at under 100 kcal per pack, supported by PR, influencers and on-street sampling to drive awareness and trial.

Seasonal excitement also returned with Tayto Hearts for Valentine’s Day, elevated this year through an on-pack consumer competition that boosted engagement.

Innovation remains central to the brand’s strategy, with the launch of Tayto Crunchy. Designed for the sharing occasion, the new range of Big Cheese and Hot & Spicy flavours landed and was backed by a fully integrated ATL and BTL campaign spanning out-of-home, audio, social and PR, ensuring strong awareness and consumer pullthrough from launch.

Tayto Hunky Dorys also delivered an impactful start to 2026 with their Golden

Crisps & Snack Foods

introduced a new upweighted 45g Big Eat impulse pack, reinforcing the brand’s big flavour and big value credentials. Offering consumers an increased impulse pack weight for the same RSP to reinforce value, the new Big Eat pack is set to drive consumer appeal and rate of sale.

Adding further excitement, Hunky Dorys Street Food has launched, bringing global flavour inspiration to the aisle with bold varieties such as Thai Beef and Chilli Cheese Fries. The launch is currently being supported by a nationwide campaign spanning VOD, digital, social and OOH, alongside PR moments and immersive food truck experiences designed to drive excitement, buzz and trial.

Looking ahead at what’s to come, Tayto continues to fuel category energy with another highly anticipated limited-edition landing in June. Designed to truly excite, Tayto Candy Floss is set to spark strong novelty appeal and social conversation, supported by a full PR and influencer rollout. Tayto Cornados builds further on its strong performance with renewed TV and VOD support from mid-June through July, supported by social across Meta, TikTok and Snapchat, ensuring sustained visibility as summer snacking peaks.

With a full pipeline of launches and brand-building activity ahead, Tayto are well positioned to drive category growth and shopper excitement. Retailers are encouraged to stock up early to fully capitalise on the brand’s continued momentum.

Hunky Dorys Street Food brings global flavour inspiration to the aisle, with bold varieties such as Thai Beef and Chilli Cheese Fries.

Rugby Ball promotion across sharing and multipack formats. The campaign paired strong on-pack excitement with eye-catching in store theatre to engage shoppers in stores around a key snacking occasion.

Hunky Dorys have also recently just

O’Donnells Crisps

O’Donnells crisps are proudly celebrating another year with the title of Ireland’s Most Awarded Crisp. With the remarkable achievement of 19 awards in 2025, O’Donnells attained four Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards, two Blas na hÉireann awards, six Free From Food Awards and seven Great Taste Awards. These accolades highlight O’Donnells’ leadership in the premium crisp category and underscore the craftsmanship and flavour excellence that continue to set the brand apart.

Now celebrating 16 years in business, O’Donnells Crisps were the original hand cooked crisps in Ireland, using local food producers for great flavours. Backed

by a farming tradition spanning seven generations and more than 300 years, the O’Donnell family has truly perfected the art of potato cultivation to bring you exceptional tasting crisps.

Building on this success, O’Donnells’ latest flavour sensation, O’Donnells Hot Honey Fusion, has made a huge impact on the crisps market. O’Donnells Hot Honey Fusion taps into the growing popularity of the hot honey flavour trend, expertly blending fiery spice with smooth, natural honey sweetness. Each crisp offers a bold, tantalising kick, followed by a rich, mellow finish of the honey, creating a truly memorable flavour experience. Designed for sharing, this snack brings friends and family together with every satisfying, crunchy bite.

O’Donnells Crisps were the original hand cooked crisps in Ireland, using local food producers for great flavours.

O’Donnells’ ‘It Starts with an O’ campaign can be heard across the national airwaves on Today FM, bringing fun and flavour to Fridays with an exciting line-up of activity across Louise Cantillon and The Friday Mix with Ray Foley. With live mentions, on-air competitions, and playful brand moments throughout the schedule, O’Donnells will be front and centre as Ireland gears up for brighter, lighter weekends.

O’Donnells crisps remain proudly glutenfree and vegetarian-friendly, made without artificial colours, flavours, MSG, or GM ingredients.

WEEE Ireland launches vape recycling campaign

‘Never Bin Vapes – Always Recycle’ is a new campaign from WEEE Ireland to boost vape recycling.

ONLY 1.4 million of the 25 million vapes sold last year in counties covered by Ireland’s largest e-waste recycling scheme, were returned for recycling, according to figures from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Ireland, with an alarming 23.6 million devices thrown away or dumped in household bins, with the lithium batteries, electrical parts and plastic they contain lost forever.

Despite a vast network of free take back facilities, just 6% of used vape and e-cigarette devices were returned for recycling in the 20 counties in which it operates.

It also warned that the true scale of careless vape disposal in Ireland may be higher due to illegal vape imports and unregulated sellers.

To tackle the issue, WEEE Ireland has launched a ‘Never Bin Vapes’ public awareness campaign, urging consumers to take responsibility for recycling disposable and rechargeable vapes correctly through the not-for-profit organisation’s free takeback network.

Responsibility lies with the user “Our research shows a concerning low awareness of correct vape disposal and that vapes are part of the free e-waste and battery takeback system,” said Leo Donovan, CEO, WEEE Ireland. “As a result, millions of devices containing batteries, electrical components and plastics are ending up in the wrong places every year, despite knowledge of the serious environmental and fire risks.

“Responsibility sits with every vape user to dispose of these products correctly and safely after use. Recycling them for free has never been easier, with thousands of WEEE Ireland Blue Battery Boxes available at supermarkets, newsagents, electrical retailers, vape retailers, and local authority recycling centres nationwide.”

Raising awareness

The research commissioned by WEEE Ireland found that while nine in 10 adults

understand that battery powered devices incorrectly thrown into household bins can be damaged in bin trucks or recycling facilities, causing fires, awareness drops sharply when it comes to vapes.

Only five in 10 adults recognise that incorrectly disposed vapes pose the same fire risk, falling further to just four in 10 among younger adults aged 18-30.

The Empathy Research study also found that half of 18-30-year-olds believe that vapes can be thrown into general household waste or recycling bins, compared to just a fifth of those aged 56 and over.

Critical raw materials

“These devices contain critical raw materials such as lithium, copper and

cobalt that can be recovered and reused in manufacturing, supporting the circular economy,” said Leo Donovan. “When thrown in the bin, those valuable resources are lost forever. There is also a very real fire risk if battery powered products such as vapes become crushed or damaged during waste collection and processing.”

WEEE Ireland’s Never Bin Vapes campaign encourages consumers to recycle all disposable and rechargeable vapes for free wherever they see WEEE Ireland Blue Battery Boxes, available in thousands of locations nationwide.

The initiative comes at a critical moment for the sector, with regulations banning disposable single use vapes and further regulation of vape retailers expected in the coming months.

Amber Leaf: trusted RYO leader

ADULT consumers look for a quality brand they trust and practical formats that make life easier. That’s why Amber Leaf remains Ireland’s number one RYO brand - and why it continues to be a dependable choice for retailers focused on consistent sales (Figures correct at time of printing; Source: NIQ Scan Track, INC, SOM, MAT, April 19, 2026).

Zipseal pouches help keep tobacco fresher for longer, while convenient three-in-one packs (including papers and filters) support a quicker, simpler purchase. Combined with quality long strand tobacco, these shopper-friendly features have established Amber Leaf as a clear leader with 72.5% share of RYO, delivering more cash through the till than all other competitor RYO brands (Figures correct at time of printing; Source: NIQ Scan Track, INC, SOM, MAT, April 19, 2026).

Regular promotions on JTI Collect Ongoing trade support strengthens that performance. Regular promotions on JTI Collect reward retailers for keeping Amber Leaf visible and in stock, helping protect margins, while keeping the brand top of mind and further reinforcing its leadership over time.

Stock Amber Leaf Original and Amber Leaf Blonde to maintain strong availability and continue to meet adult consumer needs.

Check JTI Collect regularly for opportunities to win, and back Ireland’s leading RYO brand for reliable category growth (Figures correct at time of printing; Source: NIQ Scan Track, INC, SOM, MAT, April 19, 2026).

Amber Leaf remains Ireland’s number one RYO brand and a dependable choice for retailers focused on consistent sales.

Lucozade’s bold new flavour exciting consumers

Consumers love

the

refreshing taste of new Lucozade Energy Grafruitti Zero Sugar.

IRISH consumers

are really excited by Lucozade Energy’s bold new flavour, Lucozade Energy Grafruitti Zero Sugar, the vibrant addition to the Lucozade Energy range which launched recently.

The brand took to the streets to gauge the reactions of Irish shoppers to the new flavour, which combines mixed berry and citrus notes with an exotic twist, delivering a distinctive and refreshing taste experience.

The new flavour received a thumbsup from those who sampled it, with consumers noting how refreshing the flavour combination is; one consumer described it as tasting “like a holiday in Spain”, while another noted how it “tastes like summer”.

Lucozade Energy

Grafruitti Zero Sugar brings vibrant colour and standout shelf appeal to the chiller.

Lucozade Energy Grafruitti Zero Sugar is available across convenience, grocery, wholesale and e-commerce channels in 500ml and 900ml formats, offering shoppers a refreshing zero-sugar option with a distinctive fruity taste.

Lucozade Energy Grafruitti Zero Sugar combines mixed berry and citrus notes with an exotic twist.

Focus

on innovation

The launch reinforces Suntory Beverage & Food’s continued focus on innovation within the soft drinks category, introducing a flavour designed to capture consumer interest, while supporting retailers with fresh excitement in the energy segment. With flavour remaining one of the most important purchase drivers in zero-sugar soft drinks, the brand is well positioned to help retailers meet shopper demand for variety and choice within the category. Carefully developed to deliver a full flavour profile without sugar, the new drink provides the same bold character consumers expect from the Lucozade Energy range, while responding to growing interest in zero-sugar alternatives.

The launch also reflects broader shifts in consumer behaviour across the soft drinks category. Zero-sugar products continue to gain momentum as shoppers increasingly look for more balanced beverage choices, without compromising on taste. Recent category trends show that a significant proportion of soft drink new product development sales now come from zerosugar variants, highlighting the importance of innovation in this space. By expanding its zero-sugar portfolio, Lucozade Energy aims to support retailers in capturing this demand while driving incremental growth.

An exciting new addition

“Lucozade Energy Grafruitti Zero Sugar is an exciting new addition to the Lucozade Energy zero sugar range in Ireland,” said Michelle Darlington, Lucozade Energy Marketing Manager (Ireland). “With its bold, fruity flavour and zero-sugar format, it delivers the great taste shoppers expect from Lucozade Energy, while meeting the growing demand for more zero-sugar options.”

Michelle stressed how flavour innovation continues to play a key role in driving growth across the energy drinks category, particularly with younger shoppers looking for new and exciting options:

“Grafruitti Zero Sugar brings vibrant colour and standout shelf appeal to the chiller, giving retailers a great opportunity to refresh their energy fixture, attract attention in store and drive incremental sales within the category.”

With strong brand recognition and continued investment in innovation, Lucozade Energy remains a key driver of growth within the soft drinks category. The introduction of Grafruitti Zero Sugar further strengthens the brand’s portfolio, offering Irish shoppers a vibrant new flavour, while helping retailers capitalise on the ongoing momentum behind zero-sugar beverages.

Lucozade Energy

Grafruitti Zero Sugar is a vibrant addition to the Lucozade Energy range.

Retailers are encouraged to stock up now to make the most of the launch and ensure they are ready to meet shopper demand as excitement builds around the newest addition to the Lucozade Energy range.

Retail News Interview

Loving his work

Conor Kilduff is Executive Director of Love Irish Food, the not-for-profit organisation created to support the development of homegrown brands. In a wide ranging interview, he discusses Irish consumers’ continuing love affair with indigenous brands, the ongoing support of Irish retailers, and why Irish food and drink suppliers are better prepared to weather increased costs in 2026.

CONOR Kilduff has worked in the Irish FMCG market for almost four decades, having begun in Unilever in 1987, where he spent 24 years working his way through a variety of roles in the company, ending up as Managing Director and VP of Customer Development. He then joined Keelings, spending almost 12 years as Sales & Marketing Director, before taking over from the retiring Kieran Rumley as Executive Director of Love Irish Food in autumn 2024.

“I always wanted to help Irish brands to grow,” he smiles, when we meet in the relative calm of media area at Bord Bia Bloom, where Conor has taken a break from meeting with the 40-plus Love Irish Food members exhibiting their wares at the annual event. Having recently celebrated 18 months in the role, Conor is even more enthusiastic than when he started.

“I love it,” he enthuses. “I don't think our members wake up in the morning thinking, ‘I must ring the guys in Love Irish Food’, but I believe that our role is to make ourselves useful for them; in their busy lives, how can we offer them something, create a contact for them in the industry, maybe help them get a listing, provide them with opportunities to tell their story?”

While many LIF members will highlight the quality of their brand, its Irishness is not always what they focus on, and Conor feels that this is where his organisation can help: “We can tell that story. We're quite proud as a nation about our food & drink and every business in Ireland has a story to tell. So, when we actually go and talk to those people, and we start to tell those stories, it has resonance.”

Conor admits that LIF was “very well run” under Kieran Rumley before his involvement, and that the area where Conor has proved most influential was in social media. “We've put a lot of time and effort into upping our social media presence,” he says. “At my age, I don't spend a lot of time on social media, but 20-somethings and 30-something-year-olds

spend so much time on it. It’s where they get their news.”

He admits to having “learned a lot” about the impact of social media since taking over LIF. “When I originally started on Facebook, if I put a post up, all of my friends got that post. Today, a small percentage of my friends see that post. So, it's been monetised. So, we actually need to treat it like any other media and spend money on it.”

Conor believes that social media is now a standard and important part of the media mix when it comes to

marketing your brand. He likens it to spending money on outdoor advertising: “It's like putting your money up on a billboard. Are you going to buy one billboard or are you going to buy 10 billboards? The more investment you put behind it, the more people will see the post.”

The importance of Love Irish Food Conor believes that Love Irish Food plays an important role in highlighting Irish brands. “Love Irish Food is there to promote and

celebrate Irish brands,” he smiles. “We want to help Irish brands and brand owners to accelerate their growth.”

In Ireland, we have a history of supporting home-grown brands, which Conor feels is intrinsic to how we operate as a country. “For the customer, food remains a very local product. Irish people are proud of their local roots and they're proud of the local taste of their food and drink. Ireland is a very small, open economy, and if we can help those brands grow in this economy, then they can actually get a foothold and maybe a balance sheet that allows them to think about export.”

Ireland’s agri-food sector is an international powerhouse, thanks primarily to the quality and value of our exports, with food, drink and horticulture exports increasing by 12% in 2025 to reach a record €19 billion (Source: Bord Bia).

“We've grown our exports by 32% in food and drink in the last five years,” Conor notes, stressing how most of these exporting companies first have to break the Irish market. “If you can't gain a foothold at home, if you can't develop a brand and make it work at home, it's really difficult to create that export market,” he insists. “So, I

think it's fundamental to Ireland Inc. that we have a great story to tell of freshness, of quality and of Irishness.”

Conor acknowledges the “phenomenal job” done by Bord Bia in the support they provide Irish brands to develop at home and abroad, and also highlights the role of Irish stores and store owners.

The support of Irish retailers Irish retailers, including multiples, are crucial in the success of indigenous brands, Conor admits: “We are blessed because our retailers, including multiple retailers, really do support Irish brands, but they also do well on the back of it.”

Conor feels that there have been “significant efforts across the grocery trade to support Irish products. That might have been a toss-up between ‘will I support in terms of an own label, or will I support with the brand?’ but I think consumers want both options and in a healthy market, both own label and brands can rise together.”

Tesco, in particular, have been strong supporters of LIF, with a retail partnership for the last five years. “Tesco Ireland have a Supplier Development Manager, which is a lovely role that exists to make sure that Irish suppliers are introduced to the

market,” Conor notes.

Love Irish Food can play a big part too, he insists: “We are a not-for-profit organisation, so if we can win new members, if we can drive our revenue, we can spend more money to support the whole industry. It becomes like a rising tide, which lifts all boats.”

The six facets of Love Irish Food Love Irish Food have six main strings to their collective bow, according to Conor. Firstly, they run an annual national media campaign on radio and outdoor. “As a race, we Irish really listen to radio, so if your brand is there, that highlights the power of Love Irish Food. Our outdoor campaigns really give consumers visibility of the Love Irish Food logo, and also give our brands visibility.”

LIF jointly fund marketing and advertising activities with members, allowing them access to campaigns that may have previously been beyond their reach financially.

The second area where LIF shine is in terms of retail partnerships. Their most high-profile collaboration is with Tesco Ireland, who they have partnered with since 2021 with dedicated Love Irish Food

Retail News

promotions in-store. “Over the last five years, they have been incredibly good and incredibly loyal to the whole concept,” Conor states. “We've grown strongly on the back of their partnership, and I think that they've benefited in terms of how people perceive what Tesco are doing for Irish businesses.”

More recently, Love Irish Food have added Gala Retail, Applegreen, Costcutter and Carry Out to their list of retail partnerships, and Conor is keen for more retail groups to come on board.

“With those retail partnerships, we're able to give our members visibility in store at a cost that might otherwise be prohibitive to them. So we have been able to provide them with real value from their membership,” he notes.

Social media is another area where LIF have really grown in recent years. “We've been able to interview our members, to share stories about our members,

and social media has helped to get that message out there, which has been really useful.”

Bord Bia Bloom is a key annual event for Love Irish Food. “Bloom is like a celebration of the Irish industry and it always has been,” he states. “What Bord Bia do is very valuable. We help our members in a different way but it is a lovely partnership and something that we are very dedicated to.”

Love Irish Food also run a number of bursaries, including a partnership with Sky Media to create a TV campaign, and their annual Brand Development Award with Global, which has been running since 2012. Dublin-based Irish food producer, Supernature, were recently announced as the 15th annual winner of the Brand Development Award, worth over €160,000. “Supernature is an excellent example of the innovation and ambition that exists within our Irish food and drink industry,”

I think there is some concern about how far can you press the consumer, because the consumer only has so much money and do we reach a point where consumers have to decide if they are going to fill their car with fuel or spend that money elsewhere?

Conor notes. The Love Irish Food Brand Development Award will provide Supernature with an invaluable, unique opportunity at a fully funded national advertising campaign across Global’s extensive retail outdoor media network, along with expert creative support from Marketing Network Group to develop and deliver an impactful advertising campaign.

The final area where Love Irish Food really work for members is in terms of collaboration. “We put people in contact with other members of the industry all the time,” Conor smiles. “We are a conduit and out of that, you then see brands doing things together.”

LIF recently reconvened their members’ meetings, which had been on hiatus since the Covid pandemic. “We had around 70 members involved last year. This year, we had about 110 members and we have already rented a bigger room for next year, as it provides a fabulous space for members to meet, to collaborate and to hear each other’s voices on the issues that every member is facing.”

Coping with rising costs

While the current cost-of-living crisis has made things tricky for all food and drink manufacturers, Conor stresses that Ireland had enjoyed deflation across its food and drinks sector for a decade prior to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

“So the shock of the Ukraine war

starting, that supply chain issue, the issues in terms of energy at the time, that was particularly difficult because buyers weren't used to accepting the fact that inflation was required,” he sighs. “Manufacturers themselves weren't used to having to increase their prices and were worried about how would it be perceived. But actually, a number of our members quickly went from profitable to very close to dangerous territory over a three-month period.”

The margins in agri-food are incredibly tight, he reminds us: “If your input costs increase to the level that they did, it wipes your profitability very quickly.”

Love Irish Food members, like all suppliers, had to realise that this inflationary environment was both very real and sustained. In 2026, he argues, Irish suppliers are far more used to this kind of inflationary pressure, and while far from ideal, he believes they are better prepared to trade through it.

“That said, there is concern about when this will end,” he admits. “If you listen to all of the economic advisors, they'll talk about it being a two-year impact. I think there is some concern about how far can you press the consumer, because the consumer only has so much money and do we reach a point where consumers have to decide if they are going to fill their car with fuel or spend that money elsewhere?”

The future for Love Irish Food Conor would like Love Irish Food to grow into “a consumer movement”, whereby every Irish person made an active evaluation about which brands to buy across categories. He cites the example of the yoghurt market where historically, the majority share belongs to imported brands: “If I wanted to buy an Irish yoghurt, the quality of what's available is phenomenal.”

Irish people want to support homegrown brands, he insists, so it’s not really about changing mindsets but more a case of empowering consumers with information about Irish brands: “We need to tell the stories about our Irish brands. Irish consumers are really intrigued and interested by homegrown brands, where they’re made, how many people they employ, all of that.”

Conor believes that progress for Love Irish Food means growing their membership, adding new retail partners, increasing their marketing presence (including social media), and growing the amount they have to spend on highlighting members’ brands.

Asked if he had a message for Irish

retailers, be they multiples or independent store owners, Conor’s response is simple: “We're all in this together. Genuinely, our view is that the partners that have worked strongly with us have benefited from that work and that virtuous circle is available

to everybody. Working with Love Irish Food creates opportunities, it creates relationships for everybody. So, come with us and become a retail partner and see what we can do together; through that, Ireland Inc. does well.”

Buying Irish: Love Irish Food

Irish producers confident despite economic uncertainty

New research reveals that Ireland’s food and drink industry continues to invest strategically in order to drive brand growth and performance.

NEW research from Love Irish Food and Bank of Ireland’s Business Barometer survey reveals that just 8% expect the Irish economy to improve over the next 12 months (down from 17% in 2025), while over half (51%) believe it will worsen. Despite this uncertainty, 62% remain confident in their own company’s growth prospects, based on responses from 128 Irish food and drink businesses.

Amid economic challenges, Irish food and drink producers continue to demonstrate resilience within the industry, which is driven by a strong focus on new customers, innovation and, increasingly, export markets.

Almost two-thirds (62%) of producers now view exports as the most significant opportunity for growth, with many identifying international markets as critical to offsetting a more challenging domestic environment.

In addition, a third (34%) consider NPD and innovation as the key growth opportunity to attract new customers and meet evolving consumer demands and constraints. Meanwhile, 27% see domestic retail expansion as a key area of opportunity for growth.

Investing strategically to meet challenges The research notes ongoing pressures facing the sector. Inflation and rising costs

Pictured are Lucy Ryan, Head of Food & Beverage Sector, Bank of Ireland; Tom O’Hanlon, MD, O’Hanlon Herbs; and Conor Kilduff, Executive Director, Love Irish Food.

remain top of mind as business threats, cited by a significant 81% of respondents. Economic volatility (62%) and supply chain issues (56%) were also identified as major concerns for Ireland’s food and drink industry.

These challenges are further compounded by geopolitical uncertainty, which continues to impact costs, logistics and consumer confidence.

In response to these challenges, businesses are continuing to invest strategically to drive performance over the next 12 months. 61% of respondents stated they plan to invest in operational efficiencies to drive business performance,

although this marks a 5% decline compared to 2025. Additionally, 59% of respondents stated that launching new products and/ or services will be the key focus area in order to drive business performance in the coming year.

Brand building also remains a priority, with 61% of respondents planning to invest in PR and marketing services to drive brand performance.

Shift in

sentiment

“What we’re seeing this year is a clear shift in sentiment,” noted Conor Kilduff, Executive Director, Love Irish Food. “Irish food and drink producers are understandably cautious about the wider economic outlook, but what’s really striking is their resilience and confidence in their own businesses. There is a strong sense of focus on what they can control - whether that’s building their brands, investing in innovation or exploring new markets. In particular, exports are increasingly seen as a key growth driver, as businesses look beyond Ireland to scale.

“Despite the challenges, this is a sector that continues to adapt, evolve and find opportunity, even in uncertain conditions.”

Lucy Ryan, Head of Food & Beverage Sector, Bank of Ireland, said: “These findings reflect the reality of operating in a complex and uncertain global environment. While cost pressures, inflation and geopolitical factors continue to present challenges, it’s encouraging to see Irish food and drink businesses taking a proactive and forward-looking approach.

“There is a clear emphasis on investment - particularly in operational efficiency, innovation and brand development - which will be critical to sustaining growth. The continued focus on export markets also highlights the ambition within the sector to compete and succeed on a broader stage. At Bank of Ireland we have seen an increase in our sectoral SME funding in the first four months of this year, and we are keen and ambitious to support more food and drink businesses with their growth and expansion plans.”

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Guaranteed Irish focus on food and drink

June is Guaranteed Irish Food & Drink Month, with new research proving just how much Irish shoppers want to support homegrown food and drinks.

IRISH consumers are placing increasing importance on supporting local food producers, with 84% saying buying Irish matters when doing their grocery shopping, according to new research conducted by Amárach Research on behalf of SuperValu.

Almost two thirds (63%) of consumers said that buying Irish has become a routine part of their weekly shop, reflecting growing consumer awareness around provenance, quality and supporting local communities.

Consumers also identified a range of reasons that encourage them to buy Irish products, with supporting Irish farmers and producers (55%) ranking highest, followed by quality (50%), better food standards (38%) and environmental considerations (25%).

Guaranteed Irish Food & Drink Month

Guaranteed Irish is running its annual Food & Drink Month nationwide throughout June, with the campaign sponsored by SuperValu and Centra. The campaign will

showcase the businesses, producers and brands driving Ireland’s food industry forward, highlighting the importance of supporting businesses that invest in local jobs, communities and supply chains, while responding to evolving consumer demand around trust, sustainability and local sourcing.

Bríd O’Connell, CEO of Guaranteed Irish, said: “As consumers become more conscious about where their food comes from and the impact their purchasing decisions have, accredited marks have never been more important. The Guaranteed Irish symbol gives people

confidence that they are supporting businesses committed to quality, trust, jobs and positive community impact here in Ireland. Food & Drink Month is a celebration of the producers, brands and retailers who continue to innovate while delivering on the values Irish consumers care deeply about. Thanks to our sponsors SuperValu & Centra who support us throughout the month.”

The sponsorship of Guaranteed Irish Food & Drink Month reaffirms SuperValu and Centra’s commitment to supporting Irish producers and homegrown brands, working closely with local suppliers to bring high-quality Irish products to customers nationwide. Through exclusive brands such as Frank & Honest and Clean Cut Meals, SuperValu and Centra continue to champion the very best of Irish produce, while helping to sustain local jobs, businesses, and communities.

“Our research shows that Irish consumers are placing growing importance on the provenance of the food they buy, with strong appreciation for the quality associated with Irish produce,” said Tara Clifford, Director of Product Brands at Musgrave. “SuperValu and Centra are proud to support Guaranteed Irish Food & Drink Month and to champion the innovation, quality and contribution of Ireland’s food and drink sector. Through

that support, and through our ongoing commitment to Irish suppliers and homegrown brands, we want to make it easier for customers to choose greatquality Irish produce across our stores every day.”

Conor McCallion, Founder of Clean Cut Meals, said: “We are delighted to have recently joined Guaranteed Irish and to be part of a network that champions local businesses and Irish producers. We would like to thank SuperValu and Centra for their support in exclusively stocking our products and increasing our brand’s visibility amongst consumers nationwide. Partnerships like this are incredibly important in supporting Irish businesses to grow and thrive.”

As part of their support of Guaranteed Irish Food & Beverage Month in June, Musgrave, in partnership with Guaranteed Irish and Elevate Media, are offering one Irish food or drink business a digital advertising package worth €25,000 across the SuperValu and Centra store network. The campaign will be tailored to the needs of the winning business, providing a flexible platform to help increase brand visibility, connect with new audiences, and support future growth. For more information and to submit an entry visit https://hubs.li/ Q04jTdxd0.

Earlier this year, Guaranteed Irish called on consumers to ‘Look out for the G’ and support businesses that support Ireland. For more than half a century, the Guaranteed Irish symbol has been a visible reminder that the businesses behind it are committed not only to commercial success, but to supporting Ireland’s jobs, communities, local supply chains and economic future.

Shoppers are increasingly conscious about where their money goes and want reassurance that the brands they support align with their values. The Guaranteed Irish symbol provides that reassurance. Research from 2025 highlights its real impact. 75% of members say the licence has contributed positively to their bottom line, clear evidence that consumers actively support businesses carrying the ‘G’. Meanwhile, 93% of consumers agree that the symbol signals support for local businesses and communities.

Importantly, the Guaranteed Irish licence is not simply a badge — it is earned. Businesses must meet strict criteria and demonstrate an ongoing commitment to job creation, community investment and long-term growth in Ireland. The standards are rigorous because the value of the licence depends on the integrity behind it.

Collectively, Guaranteed Irish members provide more than 150,000 jobs nationwide. In 2025, they contributed €14.52 billion to the domestic economy, with combined global revenues of €52.45 billion.

The Guaranteed Irish symbol is the national symbol for trust. The licenced mark is awarded to businesses that support jobs, local communities, and are committed to Irish provenance, with a network of 2,500 member businesses, employing 150,000+ people across Ireland.

Glenisk

Yogurt brand Glenisk recently won a €15,000 prize awarded by Guaranteed Irish, recognised for their strong and consistent use of the iconic ‘G’ symbol across their product range and marketing.

Glenisk have embedded the national mark of trust across their business, including their expanding product range, which continues to evolve with new high-protein yogurts delivering 20g of natural protein per pot, a growing cottage cheese range, and an organic baby range made with oats, fruits and vegetables, all supported by refreshed packaging that reflects the brand’s ‘Nothing Artificial. Ever.’ promise.

Guaranteed Irish recognises one member each month for outstanding use of the ‘G’. The Brand Activation Champion receives a marketing support package valued at €15,000, including advertising in The Irish Times, a national radio campaign, and

Glenisk were the winners of a € 15,000 prize from Guaranteed Irish, recognising their consistent use of the ‘G’ symbol.

regional PR support.

“At Glenisk, brand activation is really about connecting with people in a genuine way and staying true to what we stand for,” noted Kate Malone, Sales Manager at Glenisk. “Supporting Irish jobs, communities and sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We’re delighted to be named Brand Activation Champion; it’s a lovely recognition of the work our team puts in every day.”

This recognition also reflects the wider impact of the Guaranteed Irish network. Research carried out in 2025 found that 75% of member businesses reported a positive impact on their bottom line when actively using the Guaranteed Irish licence. For more information about Guaranteed Irish’s food and drink initiatives, visit www.guaranteedirish.ie

Cow & Gate

For over 135 years, Cow & Gate has been a trusted choice for families in Ireland. Proudly manufactured in Ireland since 1887, at their two state-of-the-art factories located in Macroom and Wexford, they use grass-fed dairy ingredients, sourced from local suppliers, to make their nourishing follow-on milk and toddler powders.

Cow &Gate are dedicated to enhancing the sustainability of their Irish manufacturing sites. Both factories use 100% renewable electricity, are proud members of Bord Bia’s sustainability programme, Origin Green, and have invested significantly over the past number of years to help further reduce carbon emissions. At Macroom, they are committed to reducing emissions and driving energy efficiency across all site activities. Since 2017, supported by multiple innovative energy recovery projects, their factory has cut energy consumption by 36%, saving a total of 22,480 tonnes of CO2e emissions.

Situated near the Gearagh nature reserve in West Cork, Cow & Gate take their responsibility to protect the local environment seriously. In recent years, they have strengthened biodiversity on site by planting 700 native Irish trees, including beech and ash, and introducing perennial wildflowers. To further raise awareness, they have installed a biodiversity information panel to educate employees and visitors about local species and habitats.

Cow & Gate also foster environmental awareness among employees through dedicated training sessions on energy and sustainability, complemented by eco-guided walks to the adjacent Gearagh nature reserve.

Guaranteed Irish

Cow & Gate’s plant in Macroom, Co. Cork, is committed to reducing emissions and driving energy efficiency across all site activities.

Their Wexford factory has cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 80% since 2011, equating to 11,800 tonnes of CO2e. This was achieved following the introduction of several energy-saving measures, including moving the factory to predominantly renewable energy through the installation of a biomass boiler powered by locally sourced sustainable wood.

“At Cow & Gate, we will continue to focus on sustainability, innovation, and local sourcing, reinforcing the values that make us unique,” notes Rebecca Taylor, Cow and Gate & Milupa Brand Manager, Ireland. “As experts in baby nutrition, our FollowOn and Toddler milks contain only highquality ingredients and are enriched with essential nutrients to support your baby’s development during their weaning journey. Loved far and wide for generations, we continue to support through every giggle, every grumble, every wobble, every wiggle, simply crafted to help your baby flourish.”

Cow & Gate Follow-on Milk & Toddler Milk's mission is simple, to nourish your

little one so they can truly flourish, and support parents through every beautiful moment of parenting.

“We put our parents first, for tips and nonjudgemental support, our specialist baby advisors and experienced parents are here to talk and to encourage confident parenting at every stage,” Rebecca adds.

“Our website: www. candgbabyclub.ie also offers advice for parents.”

Breastfeeding is best. Follow-on milk should only be used as part of a mixed diet and not as a breastmilk substitute before six months. Use on the advice of a healthcare professional. Use Toddler milk as part of a varied, balanced diet from one year.

Cow & Gate took home the Sustainability Award at the Guaranteed Irish Business Awards 2026.

Cow & Gate’s Wexford factory has cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 80% since 2011, equating to 11,800 tonnes of CO 2 e.

Guaranteed Irish backs Town & City Gift Cards concept

AN Irish local gift card provider has achieved prestigious Guaranteed Irish accreditation, demonstrating its commitment to powering local communities.

Town & City Gift Cards were awarded the accreditation by Guaranteed Irish in recognition of their work supporting communities across Ireland through their growing network of 16 local gift card programmes.

The local gift cards are branded to specific Irish towns and cities, and designed to amplify the local offering, drive in-person sales and lock spend into local communities. Town & City Gift Cards can be spent with a wide range of local businesses, including shops, restaurants, hotels, attractions, salons and services, including big brands and independent businesses.

Delivered by fintech Miconex, over €17.4 million in gift card sales was achieved across the Irish Town & City Gift Cards network in 2025, set to drive an estimated 335,000 visits to high streets this year.

are (l-r): Melissa Cowman, Membership Manager, Guaranteed Irish; Mark Cunningham, Business Development, Miconex; Colin Munro, CEO, Miconex; and Ben Counihan, Account Executive, Guaranteed Irish.

Colin Munro, CEO of Miconex, said: “It is a proud moment for Miconex to receive this stamp of approval as a Guaranteed Irish business, reflecting the commitment of the Irish Town & City Gift Cards network to make local shopping the first choice, keeping money locked into Irish communities that would otherwise be spent online or outside of the country. Increasingly, organisations across Ireland are looking for a local option to reward their people where their reward spend also benefits the local economy. A Town & City Gift Card is the ultimate ‘shop local’ gift card, blending unbeatable local choice with unrivalled support for local.”

Nourish

to f lourish

Vitamin D* for immune system

Iron* for cognitive development

Calcium* for bone growth

Breastfeeding is best. Follow-on milk should only be used as part of a mixed diet from 6 months. Talk to your healthcare professional.

*Vitamin D contributes to the normal function of the immune system in children. Iron contributes to the normal cognitive development of children. Calcium is needed for the normal growth and development of bone in children.

Buying Irish: Brands to Watch

Home support

Irish consumers love homegrown products and are increasingly keen to support indigenous companies.

STORE owners have a unique opportunity to strengthen their businesses and contribute to the local and indeed the national economy by prioritising homegrown brands. As consumers become increasingly conscious of where their products come from, locally produced goods offer a compelling combination of quality, authenticity and community impact.

When retailers support local suppliers, more money remains within the local economy, helping to create jobs, sustain small businesses and encourage entrepreneurship. This local economic cycle can then have macro-effects, strengthening communities and promoting long-term growth across the country.

Consumers increasingly want to know the provenance of the products they buy, looking for brands with a clear origin and a story behind them. Homegrown brands often offer a strong sense of identity, craftsmanship and trust that resonates with customers.

Stocking Irish brands can also improve the resilience of your supply chain, offering shorter lead times, reduced transportation costs and greater flexibility. Given the global uncertainty of recent years, local sourcing provides retailers with greater stability and control, as well as delivering strong sustainability credentials.

Finally, homegrown brands often bring something new and distinct to the marketplace, with entrepreneurs across the country developing innovative food and drink products that appeal to Irish consumers, from ‘free from’ innovations to local tastes, culture and expertise.

In Ireland’s highly competitive retail environment, supporting Irish brands is more than a patriotic gesture; it is a smart commercial strategy that benefits retailers, consumers and the local and national economy.

Glenhaven Foods

For four decades, Glenhaven Foods have proudly stood as one of Ireland’s leading

family-owned frozen food producers, bringing high-quality food from the heart of Wicklow to homes across the country. Established in 1984 by the Cahill family, the business has grown from a small Irish operation into a trusted household and retail brand supplying major retailers nationwide, including Tesco, Dunnes Stores, SuperValu, Centra, Spar, and many more.

Today, as Glenhaven celebrates 40 years in business, the company continues to evolve with a major retail brand refresh and the launch of an innovative new family friendly range that is set to shake up the frozen category.

Leading the new product development is Glenhaven’s exciting new ‘Baked, Not Fried’ range, a first-of-its-kind innovation within the frozen category in Ireland. Designed for today’s health-conscious families, the range includes delicious Chicken Goujons and Chicken Fillets that deliver on both taste and nutrition.

The products are:

• High in protein, with 17g of protein per serving

• Contain 60–70% less fat

Oven baked for a lighter, familyfriendly option

With consumers increasingly seeking healthier convenience foods without compromising on flavour, Glenhaven’s

new range offers a unique proposition to retailers and shoppers alike.

‘Simple family food, baked the Glenhaven way’ is more than just a slogan. It reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to creating wholesome, accessible food for busy Irish households.

After 40 years, Glenhaven remains proudly Irish and family owned, with family life still at the heart of everything the brand creates. The company continues to manufacture in Co. Wicklow, while supporting Irish jobs, Irish suppliers, and local communities.

The recent rebrand modernises the Glenhaven retail offering, while staying true to the company’s heritage and values. Alongside the new baked range, Glenhaven have also expanded their wider portfolio, continuing to innovate across frozen convenience foods.

As demand grows for trusted Irish brands with strong provenance, Glenhaven believe their story resonates strongly with both retailers and consumers.

“We are proud of our Irish roots and proud to continue innovating after 40 years in business,” notes Emma Cahill, Brand Director. “Our focus has always been on delivering quality products for Irish families while supporting local employment and sourcing wherever possible.”

Buying Irish: Brands to Watch

With a fresh new look, category innovation, and a continued focus on quality food, Glenhaven are looking confidently toward the future, while remaining firmly grounded in the family values that have shaped the business since day one.

Golden Bake

In response to a plea from vegetarians, Golden Bake have made snack time delicious for all with the launch of their new Triple Cheese & Onion Mini Jambons, a brilliantly tasty new addition to their iconic Jambons range. Consumers can now enjoy all the richness and depth of flavour they love from Jambons, just without the meat. Made in Ireland using only the best ingredients, and with all the care and

Triple Cheese & Onion Mini Jambons are a brilliantly tasty new addition to the Golden Bake Jambons range.

craftsmanship you would expect from Golden Bake, the new Triple Cheese & Onion Mini Jambons combine an indulgent blend of Mature White Cheddar, Emmental and Mozzarella cheeses with onion, wrapped in Golden Bake’s signature golden, flaky puff pastry.

For fans of the classic, Golden Bake have also introduced nitrate-free Irish ham to their much-loved Ham & Cheese Jambons,

Bake

contain up to 100 light, flaky layers in every product.

reflecting changing consumer demands.

Perfect for busy days, after-school snacks, lunchboxes, cosy evenings or any time consumers fancy something warm and delicious, Golden Bake Jambons are the tastiest snack in town. Simply pop them in the air-fryer or oven to create moments of comfort, indulgence and delight, with warm, golden, flaky Jambons in just a few minutes.

Using the traditional French method of lamination, Golden Bake create up to 100 light, flaky layers in every product, delivering the crisp, flaky pastry texture they’re famous for.

Provenance and support for local suppliers have always been at the heart of Golden Bake’s success. From their Dublin bakery, Golden Bake continue to create delicious, easy-to-prepare snacks and bakery favourites for families across Ireland.

Golden Bake Triple Cheese & Onion Mini Jambons and Nitrate-Free Irish Ham & Cheese Jambons are available now from leading retailers nationwide at an RRP of €3.50.

Irish Pride

The Irish Bread Company has relaunched Irish Pride with a new brand identity and its biggest ever through-the-line marketing campaign. The brand has one clear ambition: to become Ireland's number one everyday bread brand, and to transform how consumers think about white bread along the way.

White bread still accounts for almost half of all loaf sales in Ireland, yet it remains stubbornly framed as a "less healthy" choice. Irish Pride is changing that conversation.

Irish Pride’s category-disrupting, new range delivers up to 32% of people’s daily fibre needs in just two slices. Boasting no preservatives, no added sugar, no palm oil, an emulsifier-free recipe, and extended freshness that reduces food waste, the new range challenges long-held perceptions around nutrition and everyday bread choices.

The brand’s bold new packaging design and creative comms feature oversized

typography and vibrant colourways that feel distinctly Irish Pride. The brand’s campaign line ‘The Best Sliced Bread Since Sliced Bread’ speaks to the brand benefits in a playful way. The relaunch is squarely aimed at younger, urban families, and aims to shift white bread from a compromise purchase to positive choice.

ever through-the-line marketing campaign.

“Irish families are looking for more from the products they buy every week; more nutrition, more value, more choice,” explained Julie-Ann Twomey, CMO, The Irish Bread Company. “With this full repositioning, we're providing better choices for families that want to do right by their kids, without giving up the bread they actually love. The bread category deserves this kind of ambition, and Irish families deserve better fresh bread.”

Irish Pride's biggest ever campaign is now live nationwide, spanning broadcast, outdoor, digital and retail, with creative and comms designed to maximise fame, shelf standout and consumer recall. For more information, visit www.irishpride.ie

Bring a vegetarian-friendly twist to a consumer favourite. Made in Ireland with a blend of cheeses and onion, wrapped in golden flaky pastry and ready to cook from frozen in under 15 minutes for a convenient, great-tasting addition to any freezer aisle!

20 years of Bord Bia Bloom

This year’s Bord Bia Bloom festival, over the June Bank Holiday Weekend, was the 20th time the Phoenix Park transformed into the country’s biggest horticulture and food festival.

MORE than 90,000 visitors attended over the June Bank Holiday Weekend, as Bord Bia Bloom celebrated 20 years of growth, inspiration and impact, showcasing the very best of Irish food, horticulture and sustainable living.

Business flourished, awardwinning gardens inspired visitors, and conversations around sustainability, wellbeing and the future of urban living took centre stage as Bord Bia celebrated its 20th Bloom event in style.

“20 years on from the first Bloom, it is remarkable to see how the festival continues to evolve, while remaining true to its core purpose of celebrating Irish horticulture, food and sustainability,” noted Jim O’Toole, Bord Bia’s Chief Executive. "The quality of this year’s show gardens has been exceptional and what has always set Bloom apart is its ability to use gardens to spark conversations about issues that affect us all, from sustainability and biodiversity to mental health and community wellbeing. As we conclude our 20th festival, we are already looking forward to welcoming visitors back in 2027.”

Business was Bloomin’ Consumers once again demonstrated a strong willingness to spend at Bord Bia

Bloom, with exhibitors reporting robust sales and strong engagement from visitors.

Maresa Ronan, Blanco Niño, the Clonmelbased tortilla chip business, described Bord Bia Bloom 2026 as a hugely successful event for the brand: “It’s been an amazing experience. We've seen a noticeable increase in consumer interest in our products and in Irish businesses generally

compared with last year, which is fantastic to see. The response from visitors has been incredible, and it's been our busiest year to date in terms of sales. The support for Irish food producers at Bloom continues to grow, and we're delighted to be part of that story.”

The food and drinks area was extremely busy when Retail News visited, with most of those on the stands reporting brisk sales.

Kian Louet-Feisser, owner of Carlingford Oyster Company, was back to tempt visitors to try oysters, many sampling the seafood for the very first time. Kian told Retail News that last year’s Bloom was so successful for the company that they simply had to return this year, and was extremely happy with how business was going in 2026.

Conor Kilduff, Executive Director of Love Irish Food, stressed the importance of Bord Bia Bloom to the organisation and its members: “We've had some members who maybe had a very small stand last year and they've gone for a double-sized stand this year; you can actually see the growth and you can see the improvement year-on-year.”

Conor draws particular attention to the Bord Bia Trade Breakfast at Bloom, where there were “a significant number of buyers who want to meet new suppliers, to give them a route to market. There's a genuine pride in the buyers being able to source locally, which it's nice to see.”

The 13th annual Bloom Trade Breakfast on Friday, May 29, brought more than 100 leading Irish food and drink producers together with over 250 of the country’s top retail and foodservice buyers. Held in the Food Village at Bord Bia Bloom, this highly anticipated networking event serves as a major commercial springboard for the industry. It connects exhibitors directly with retail and foodservice heavyweights representing a combined market value of €26 billion. Irish food and drink companies leverage the platform to launch new products, debut innovative packaging, and introduce emerging flavour trends to the

National Organic Awards launch at Bloom MINISTER for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, launched the National Organic Awards 2026 at Bloom in the Phoenix Park, Dublin. Jointly hosted by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Bord Bia, the flagship biennial awards will take place in September, at the Bord Bia Global Hub in Dublin.

“Ireland’s organic sector continues to play an increasingly important role in the sustainable development of the Irish agri-food sector, presenting significant opportunities to increase our food exports to meet growing demand for organic products on international markets,” noted Minister Heydon. “The National Organic Strategy has set an ambitious target of €750 million in wholesale output by 2030, and great strides are being made to achieve this.

“The National Organic Awards provide an important opportunity to recognise the innovation, commitment and leadership being shown by organic farmers, producers and businesses across the country.”

Irish retail and hospitality landscape.

The annual event has a proven trackrecord in helping to secure new business listings for exhibitors. Following initial conversations made at Bloom last year, non-alcoholic beverage company Fierce Mild successfully launched a product range that is now delivered daily to over 200 stores nationwide. Similarly, low-sugar jam producer Mór Taste secured major listings post-event, with their products now available in over 100 stores. Killowen Yoghurts have recently expanded their listings with Tesco UK, increasing the number of stores stocking their product range from 250 to 850.

“The energy at the Trade Breakfast proves that as Bord Bia Bloom celebrates its landmark 20th year, this event remains a powerhouse for Irish business,” noted Jim O’Toole, CEO, Bord Bia. “Each year, the key decision-makers behind Ireland's biggest listings engage directly with both new and established Irish food and drink producers,

Lily O’Brien’s Chocolates are regular visitors to Bord Bia Bloom.

Bord Bia Bloom

who continue to innovate and excel within the industry. Our role enables the growth of strong partnerships between customers, producers and industry stakeholders that are built on trust, collaboration, and a shared ambition for growth.”

Product, packaging and process innovations

This year’s showcase highlighted product innovations driven by consumer demand for clean-label and 'better for you' offerings. ‘Fibre-maxxing’ and circular production trends are represented by functional food company Biasol, who launched their 30g High Fibre Mini Oat Bites, and snacking brand Blanco Niño, who introduced new single-serve bags of their popular tortilla chip range, along with a new flavour, in response to consumer preferences.

Innovation was also visible in traditional categories, with bacon producers Oakpark and Brady Family both launching new nitrate-free bacon products at Bloom.

Other companies launching new products included: Folláin, who added a new flavour - Apple, Pear, Flaxseed & Chia Seed – to their Spoonfuls range; Cashel Farmhouse Cheese's Toma No. 5 cheese; Dungarvan Brewing Company's new Clonea Strand Kolsch Style Lager; Kinnegar Brewing’s non-alcoholic version of their Jackrabbit ginger beer; Loughnane's new premium pudding range; Traditional Cheese Company's Gluten-free range; Nomadic Foods’ Limited Edition white chocolate and strawberry yogurt and oat cluster; Fierce Mild's Non-Alcoholic Lager; Carlingford Oysters new smaller size oyster; and Rye River Brewing Company's Nitro Stout.

Pauline Dunne, Marketing Manager, Killowen Farm, said: “We have found that direct conversations with buyers at this event have been hugely important for us and supported product innovations. We recently launched an Overnight Oats product with SuperValu; and have also recently introduced a protein-rich range of our yoghurts and granola, which have been well received by retailers nationwide.”

Among the prominent retail buyers in attendance at the Bord Bia Business Breakfast were Musgrave, Dunnes Stores, Tesco, Lidl, Aldi, and M&S, alongside specialist retailers such as Donnybrook Fair, Fallon & Byrne, and Fresh The Good Food Market.

The Irish foodservice sector was also heavily represented by major players, including Dalata Hotel Group, Gourmet Food Parlour, forecourt operators Circle K and Applegreen, and workplace caterers Aramark, Compass, and Sodexo, in addition

M&S awards Irish suppliers at Bord Bia Bloom 2026

MARKS & Spencer (M&S) recognised three Irish suppliers, Connolly’s Eggs (Co. Monaghan), the Dunne Family of Killowen Farm (Co. Wexford) and Keelings (Co. Dublin) at this year’s M&S Select Farm Awards, held for the first time at Bord Bia Bloom 2026 in Dublin’s Phoenix Park.

The awards celebrate the strong partnerships between M&S and their Irish suppliers, recognising those who are delivering great quality produce, while continuing to invest in sustainable and innovative farming practices.

Connolly’s Eggs, Co. Monaghan, were awarded the M&S Emerging Talent Award, which recognises their strong start as an M&S supplier, high standards across modern free-range facilities and the leadership of the next generation of the family.

The Dunne Family, producers of Killowen Yoghurts in County Wexford, won the M&S Family Farm Award. They have been recognised for combining traditional farming values with modern, sustainable production, delivering high-quality yoghurt with full traceability from pasture to pot.

Keelings, the family-owned fruit grower based in County Dublin, were awarded the Produce Excellence Award at this year’s ceremony. As a long-standing partner to M&S, Keelings continue to invest in advanced growing techniques, helping to deliver fresh, high-quality produce for M&S customers.

“These winners reflect the strength, resilience and ambition within our Irish supply base,” said Laura Harper, Trading Director Ireland and Northern Ireland at Marks & Spencer. “From long-standing family farms to new supplier partnerships, they are setting new benchmarks for Irish agriculture and food production. We’re proud to work alongside suppliers who are not only producing outstanding food, but actively shaping a more sustainable future for the industry.”

to national distributors Sysco, Musgrave Wholesale Partners, and BWG Foodservice.

Horticulture in focus

Beyond showcasing food innovation, Bord Bia Bloom also serves as an important platform for horticulture industry engagement and collaboration. This year, Bord Bia hosted a Horticulture Trade Breakfast to bring together key stakeholders from across the sector, creating valuable opportunities for networking, relationship-building and commercial growth.

In keeping with Bloom's long-standing commitment to sustainability, many of this year's gardens will continue to have a life beyond the festival. The gold medal-winning Fingal County Council Garden is being relocated to Brackenstown Walled Garden near Swords, where Fingal County Council is

Killowen

Bord Bia Bloom

restoring the historic site and establishing a new community gardening group.

The ‘Shared Roots, Common Shade’, sponsored by the European Commission and designed by Oliver and Liat Schurmann is being relocated to Cork, where it will become a publicly accessible garden for local communities to enjoy. The garden highlighted Ireland's forthcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Meanwhile, the plants and materials from the ‘Nature in Balance’ organic farming garden, designed by Linda McKeown, will also be reused, with trees and plants redistributed to charity, school and community garden projects.

Bord Bia also announced that Bloom has retained its event sustainability certification, the first event in Ireland to achieve ISO accreditation for sustainable

The Donnelly Fresh team, getting their pose on at Bord Bia Bloom. event management. The certification was confirmed for a second year, following an independent onsite audit, recognising the festival's continued commitment to environmental responsibility, social impact and best practice in sustainable event delivery.

The final day of the festival also marked

the announcement of two highly anticipated awards. The People’s Choice Award, voted for by visitors to the show, was awarded to ‘Rooted in Resilience’, designed by David Negus. The garden was inspired by people living with multiple myeloma, a rare and incurable blood cancer. The Designers’ Choice Award, selected by the Bloom 2026 garden designers, was presented to Joe Eustace for the ‘Future in Mind’ garden, sponsored by the Mental Health Commission, which reflected Ireland’s transition from institutional mental health care to a recovery-focused, communitybased system.

Looking Ahead

“We are incredibly grateful to our visitors, designers, nurseries, exhibitors, sponsors, partners, volunteers, visitors, and the wider Bloom community who helped make this 20th anniversary festival such a memorable occasion,” summed up Laura Douglas, Head of Bord Bia Bloom.

Bord Bia has confirmed that Bloom 2027 will take place from Thursday, June 3, to Monday, June 7, 2027, in the Phoenix Park, Dublin.

Lidl celebrate 10 years of Kickstart

22 Irish suppliers have been selected for Lidl Ireland’s 2026 Kickstart Supplier Development Programme, in the tenth year of the milestone programme.

LIDL Ireland have unveiled the latest cohort of 22 Irish suppliers selected for their Kickstart Supplier Development Programme, as the initiative celebrates 10 years of supporting Irish food and drink producers.

The Kickstart Class of 2026 represents a new wave of ambitious producers spanning food, drink, wellness and artisan categories. This year’s line-up features a wide range of exciting and locally sourced products, from Donegal based Little Mammas Gelato, to RYSE Chocolate Energy Bars, founded by brothers-in-law in Co. Meath, and Cully's famous batch loaf from Cully’s Craft Bakery, a renowned family-run bakery operating in Cavan since 1953.

The full range of 50 products from 22 suppliers will be available in Lidl’s 235 stores nationwide from Thursday, September 10, as part of a two-week promotional campaign.

This year’s Kickstart programme received hundreds of submissions from every county across the island of Ireland. Among those selected are father and daughter duo, Kevin and Rachel Byrne, creators of Zingibeer, an independent Irish drinks brand producing an award-winning premium alcoholic ginger beer, based in Smithfield, as well as Cork-based Niks Tea, brewing up a storm with their herbal teas, and Galway’s Gran Gran Foods, who produce a range of delicious burger sauces sure to add a splash of flavour to any meal.

Growing diversity and innovation

The Kickstart Class of ’26 reflects the growing diversity and ever-evolving innovation that is at the heart of Ireland’s thriving food production industry, and includes:

BiaSol, from Offaly, bring sustainable, oat-based innovation to Lidl shelves with their nutritious snack range, transforming upcycled ingredients into delicious products with purpose.

• Jaru, from Dublin, bring bold Koreaninspired flavours with their authentic Kimchi and Korean BBQ Sauce, delivering exciting global tastes for Irish consumers.

• Nua Naturals from Cork bring premium wellness innovation with their high-quality Matcha and Cacao Powder, supporting the growing demand for natural nutrition and healthy living.

• Crust Gluten Free, from Galway, bring inclusive baking innovation with their Gluten Free Baking Mixes, making greattasting home baking more accessible for all consumers.

island.

Investment of over €42 million

Now in its 10th year, Lidl Ireland have invested more than €42 million in the Kickstart Supplier Development programme, supporting over 300 local suppliers and bringing hundreds of innovative Irish products to Lidl customers. The programme has also delivered longterm success, with many participants securing permanent listings in Lidl stores, including Slice of Life Pizza, Fused by Fiona Uyema stir fry sauces, Applewood Farm’s apple cider vinegar, and Naked Bakes cookie dough.

“Reaching 10 years of Kickstart is a proud milestone for Lidl Ireland and a testament to the ambition, resilience and quality of Irish producers,” said Kevin Duffy, Chief Commercial Officer for Kickstart at Lidl Ireland and Northern

Ireland. “Over the past decade, we have seen small and emerging businesses grow into recognised retail brands, creating jobs and expanding into new markets at home and abroad as they become firm favourites of our customers.

“This year’s cohort reflects the innovation and diversity that makes Ireland’s food and drink sector so dynamic. From artisan producers to fast-growing challenger brands, these businesses represent the future of Irish enterprise. We are delighted to support them with the expertise, platform, and customer reach needed to take the next step in their growth journey.”

Helping to make them ‘retail ready’

Backed by Board Bia, suppliers have now commenced a six-month programme to get them 'retail ready', learning everything from product development and packaging

Republic of Ireland

Brand

iStill38 Vodka

Thomond Gate Whiskey

Zingibeer Ltd

Irish Independent Foods with Niks Tea and NuaNatural

Little Mamma's Gelato

Happy Hour Foods

Brownstown Handmade Crafts

Corveenglean Meats

Chimac

Spice Seeker

Cully’s Craft Bakery

Cabots of Westport

Safco Fine Foods

Jaru

Dhaaranaa

BiaSol

Ryse

Crust Gluten Free

Jo’s Absolute Nutrition

Gran Gran Foods

Moran's Mega Jam

Nude Foods

Northern Ireland

Jawbox Gin

Mac Ivors Cider

Bro38 Coffee

Juist

Fibre Up

Moocha Kombucha

Nuggy Indulgence

Island Salads

Fenners

The Little Meat Company

Kennedy Bacon

Big Pot Co

The Galley

Whoosh

Healthii Kitchen

CK Wai Mai Ltd

to labelling and marketing, culminating in the all-important two weeks’ promotional sales period in Lidl stores across the island of Ireland.

Lidl have also partnered with BIA Innovator Campus in Co. Galway, which is Ireland’s first centre of excellence for food businesses, for a second year running, to give an exclusive opportunity for suppliers to take part in industry expert-led seminars.

Beyond in-store exposure, Kickstart continues to open doors internationally, with many alumni going on to export their

Product

Premium iStill38 Pink and Vanilla Vodka

Yankee Clipper Irish coffee liqueur

Premium Irish Ginger Beer

Artisan Irish wellness tea and cacao and matcha brand Nua Naturals

Premium gelato producer

Brazilian frozen snacks & finger foods

Handmade home fragrance brand

Nitrate Free Cured Bacon

Korean-inspired sauce and Pork Burger Buns

Spice Seeker Sauces Butter Tikka and Butter Tikka Masala

Cully’s 800g Batch Loaf

Fresh Food Sauce

Healthy vegetarian pesto

Authentic Korean BBQ sauce and Kimchi

Nepalese food brand

Sustainable oat snack brand

Ryse Energy Caffeine Bars; Milk, Orange, Mint

Gluten Free Baking Mixes

Jo’s Energy Balls Dublin

Family-run condiments brand Galway

Homemade jams, chutneys, relishes, pestos & sauces Cavan

Ready Meals

Louth

Small Batch Gin Original Down

Medium Cider; Plum & Ginger Cider Armagh

Go Bro Whole Bean and Ground Coffee Down

Canned Apple Juice both still and sparkling Armagh

Canned Drinks with 50% of your daily fibre intake Belfast

Kombucha Drinks Range

Tyrone

Bueno Indulgence Ice Cream Down

Fruit Trifle & Black Forest Trifle Armagh

Air Dried Steak Down

Shredded Flavoured Chicken Down

Smashed Bacon Grills Burger Tyrone

Vegetable Bone Broth

Tyrone

Signature Curry Spice Box; Breaded Fish Cakes Down

Gluten Free Rice Noodles (Vietnamese Pho / Thai Satay) Derry

Protein Balls Derry

Gluten Free Chilled Satay Sauce & Honey Chilli Sauce Down

products through Lidl’s extensive global network across Europe, the UK and the USA, including Applewood Farm’s Apple Cider Vinegar which was exported to Lidl stores in the USA.

An invaluable opportunity for emerging businesses

Adam Baker, Global Retail Specialist at Bord Bia, commented: “Lidl’s Kickstart programme is an invaluable opportunity for emerging Irish food and drink businesses. It provides a direct route into retail, while also equipping producers with the tools and

expertise needed to scale sustainably and explore export opportunities.

“This association plays a significant role in supporting the continued growth, innovation, and global ambition of Ireland’s agri-food sector.”

The Kickstart programme remains a key pillar of Lidl Ireland’s commitment to local sourcing, delivering quality Irish products and supporting the long-term success of the agri-food industry.

For more information on the Kickstart Supplier Development Programme, visit www.lidl.ie/kickstart.

Beyond DRS: what the new Textiles EPR Scheme means for retail

IRISH retailers continue to operate in a highly volatile environment this year. As businesses manage rising costs and weak consumer confidence, a significant new regulatory challenge is emerging at the EU level. This legislation will fundamentally change how products are managed and recovered across all European member states.

In April 2026, the Irish Government launched its first National Policy Statement and Roadmap on Circular Textiles. A central piece of this is a new rule prohibiting the destruction of unsold textiles, which will officially take effect for large enterprises from July 2026, with medium-sized businesses following in 2030. This marks a major shift away from the traditional habit of simply throwing away old stock, moving toward a system where items are kept in use for as long as possible.

The upcoming Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme is the final piece of this policy puzzle. By making the fashion and textile industry financially responsible for post-consumer waste, the EU and Irish Government aim to accelerate the transition to an economy where garments are built to last, are easy to fix, and can eventually be recycled.

In simple terms, EPR ensures that businesses remain responsible for their products even after customers have finished using them. While dedicated fashion outlets are on the front lines, this will also heavily impact supermarkets and larger grocery formats that carry clothing or homeware lines. The financial and organisational burden for dealing with old stock shifts from consumers and local authorities directly onto retailers and producers.

EU Waste Framework Directive

This initiative stems from the revision of the EU Waste Framework Directive. Under these new rules, producers will pay fees based on the environmental impact of their products, meaning higher fees for items that are hard to recycle, and lower fees for garments that are highly durable.

One of the most recent EPR schemes introduced in Ireland is the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for cans and bottles. While the grocery sector is now highly familiar with the operational realities of the DRS, textiles pose far greater complexity. The DRS deals with a narrow range of standard materials, whereas clothing involves immense diversity. A single garment may combine natural and synthetic fibres, hardware such as zips and buttons, and chemical dyes - all of which complicate recycling in ways the beverage sector never encounters.

This scheme arrives at a time when the ongoing progression towards the Living Wage remains a significant cost pressure on retail margins. With consumer sentiment dropping to its lowest level in several years, requiring retailers to provide substantial upfront funding to get this new system off the ground, covering

feasibility work, IT systems, and early-stage operations long before fee revenue is generated, is a daunting prospect.

Looking ahead: what retailers need to prepare for

As the scheme moves from policy to the shop floor, retailers will need to engage early and strategically. To manage the operational impact, businesses should focus on three immediate areas:

• Product Traceability: Businesses will need a clearer picture of exactly what goes into their products, often requiring a massive data-mapping exercise with global suppliers. Investing in detailed supply-chain data will be essential to stay compliant and to accurately calculate the new environmental fees.

• Take-Back Obligations: Retailers should prepare for new physical and logistical requirements surrounding in-store take-back systems for used clothing.

• Consumer Communication: Staff and marketing teams will need to be equipped to handle new data reporting rules and to educate shoppers on the new recycling processes.

Ultimately, while the EPR scheme introduces real cost and complexity, it also presents an opportunity to build a more resilient retail sector. However, businesses cannot be expected to shoulder the initial financial burden alone.

Retail Ireland is actively engaging with the Government to ensure that any initial funding requirements are proportionate and that state support is provided during the critical set-up phase. Retail Ireland will continue to advocate for a practical roll-out that protects business viability, while delivering on shared environmental goals.

Tel: 01-6051558 | www.retailireland.ie

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A new era for Dingle Gin

DINGLE Distillery, the family run independent spirits producer on Ireland's Dingle Peninsula, have unveiled a completely redesigned bottle for Dingle Gin, their most significant evolution since the distillery first opened its doors in 2012. The announcement also introduces a new look for Dingle Vodka and marks the launch of Dingle Gin Orange & Sea Salt, the distillery's first major new gin expression in years. For over a decade, the original Dingle Gin bottle has been a recognisable fixture, particularly since winning the title of World's Best Gin at the 2019 World Gin Awards. The new bottle draws inspiration from the rugged Atlantic landscape and contemporary spirit of the Dingle Peninsula, retaining the recognisable character of the original, while bringing a more refined and confident identity to the range.

Coca-Cola ignites World Cup fever

AS the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicked off, CocaCola Ireland unveiled its exciting new campaign, ‘Feel It All’, designed to immerse fans across the nation in the emotional journey of football's biggest tournament. Recognising the unique passion of Irish supporters, Coca-Cola is ensuring they can experience the full rollercoaster of emotions of tournament football, even in the absence of their national teams. At the centre of Coca-Cola’s FIFA World Cup 2026 activity is a partnership with Panini, with specially marked 500ml and 2-litre Coca-Cola bottles which include exclusive Panini FIFA World Cup 2026 stickers, giving fans the chance to collect and complete their official FIFA World Cup 2026 Panini Sticker Album. Further enhancing the collection, Coca-Cola introduced a series of collectible country cans, featuring individually available, limited-edition designs that represent nations such as Brazil, Mexico, Germany, England, France, Spain, Argentina, and Portugal.

Heineken 0.0 launch the competition of the summer

WHILE we may be known as the best fans in the world, at home it’s a different story. A third of people in Ireland say they barely know their neighbours and Heineken 0.0 is on a mission to change that. Fronted by Irish football icon John O'Shea (pictured), The Heineken 0.0 Star Bar is a massive, nationwide competition that will transform one lucky Irish home into the country’s most talked-about fan local, or an unforgettable fan experience, this summer. The winning house will be given the full superstar treatment inside and out, becoming a fullblown neighbourhood football hotspot, designed to bring neighbours together. The winning home will be transformed with personalised pub frontage, match-night lighting, icecold Heineken 0.0 flowing and dedicated Heineken 0.0 staff on-site for the night.

Stunning new look for Bushmills Black Bush

BUSHMILLS Irish Whiskey have announced a landmark redesign of their Black Bush bottle, the first evolution of this iconic blend’s packaging in almost 20 years. The new bottle marks a confident step forward for one of the world’s great blended whiskeys: a premium, angular form that speaks to the quality of what’s inside and represents Bushmills’ global ambition for the brand. The redesign is part of a long-term strategy to build a unified family of bottles across the Bushmills range. The 2021 single malt relaunch established a new visual language for the brand: angular, premium, rooted in the Giant’s Causeway. Black Bush now speaks that same language. A slimmer, taller silhouette than the single malt bottle, but sharing its hexagonal base, its embossed heritage iconography, and its confident, contemporary character.

Jameson unveil streetwear collaboration

JAMESON’S exclusive streetwear collaboration with KidSuper Studios has landed in Ireland, bringing football culture, fashion and Irish community spirit together in one limited-edition drop. Designed by Irish-American designer and KidSuper founder Colm Dillane, the capsule pays tribute to both Dillane’s and Jameson’s Irish roots, reworking classic football style through KidSuper's playful, art-led lens. Officially launching the collection are comedian Ryan Carrick, Mayra Dunne, Ashley Abbedeen and freestyler Sam Madden, captured at the iconic Norton’s Fruit & Veg on Meath Street, a visual nod to the authenticity, character and local community spirit that inspired the collection.

Applegreen open Parnell Road service area in Dublin

APPLEGREEN have officially opened their 42nd service area in Ireland at Parnell Road, Harold’s Cross, further expanding their retail and food offering for customers on the go.

The development features a new M&S Food shop-in-shop, Braeburn Coffee, a modern Applegreen convenience store, and a brand-new car wash, creating a convenient destination for motorists and the local community alike. Designed to enhance the customer experience, the upgraded site offers a modern stop for food, coffee and everyday essentials on-the-go.

The new additions complement Applegreen’s growing network across Dublin and reinforce the company’s commitment to delivering quality, choice and convenience to customers.

“The refurbishment of our Parnell Street Applegreen location in Dublin marks another important milestone for the business and reflects our continued investment in enhancing the customer experience,” said Ryan O’Connor, Applegreen Parnell Road Site Manager. “With the addition of M&S Food, Braeburn Coffee and our upgraded retail offering, we are proud to provide customers with even greater quality, convenience and choice.”

Circle K revamp Artane store

CIRCLE K Ireland have completed a major €250,000 refurbishment at their store in Artane, Dublin, as part of the company’s continued investment in upgrading their retail network across Ireland.

The redevelopment, which took place over 18 months, transformed the store, with a stronger focus on food, convenience, and customer experience, reflecting the changing needs of the growing local community. Among the key additions is an expanded food offering that now includes a full hot and cold deli, an upgraded in-store bakery, and a larger grab-and-go range. Customers can also avail of an improved selection of cold drinks, an enhanced off-licence, and an upgraded coffee offering featuring a wider range of barista style drinks alongside newer speciality options such as matcha.

“We’re proud to celebrate our newly refurbished Circle K store in Artane and to continue investing in the local community,” noted Mary McDonald, Retail Director of Operations, Circle K Ireland. “This €250,000 upgrade is about making a real difference for customers who rely on this store every day, from improved food and coffee options to a more modern and welcoming shopping environment."

Applegreen investing €6 million to open Popeyes in Ireland

APPLEGREEN are set to create up to 450 new jobs following an agreement that will see the Irish company open a series of Popeyes chicken restaurants at their roadside locations. Under the new agreement, Applegreen will invest about €6 million to open Popeyes outlets at a number of their Irish locations over the next four years. Applegreen’s first Popeyes will open at Midway, Junction 17 on the M7, at Portlaoise in the coming weeks.

“We are delighted to add Popeyes to our growing portfolio of high-quality brands in the Irish market,” said Seamus Stapleton, Managing Director of Applegreen’s Republic of Ireland business. “At Applegreen, we’re committed to raising the bar for roadside hospitality and offering great food and world class service to people on the move. Popeyes is a fantastic addition to the Applegreen offer and we can’t wait to open our first Popeyes outlet at Midway later this summer.”

Popeyes UK and Ireland, which holds the master franchise for Popeyes in both the UK and Republic of Ireland, recently opened its first Irish outlet in Blanchardstown.

Circle K provide free coffee to Pieta’s Darkness Into Light participants

CIRCLE K, a proud partner of Pieta, offered free tea and coffee, including iced coffee, to all Darkness Into Light walkers across participating Circle K locations nationwide, including some Circle K Express sites, from 5am to 8am on Saturday, May 9, when customers simply had to mention “Darkness Into Light” at the till to receive their complimentary drink.

As the official coffee partner of Darkness Into Light 2026, Circle K supported the tens of thousands of people who took part in the early morning walk, coming together in hope, remembrance and solidarity with those impacted by suicide and self-harm.

Darkness Into Light, proudly supported by Electric Ireland, is one of Ireland’s largest and most impactful fundraising initiatives, attracting over 80,000 people every year. Last year, 200 walks raised €4 million to support Pieta’s free, life-saving services.

While the event is a powerful moment of togetherness and hope, it also reflects the very real and ongoing impact of suicide and self-harm across Ireland. Each year, around 500 people lose their lives to suicide, and one in five people will experience suicidal thoughts in their lifetime. The impact extends far beyond the individual, with a single suicide affecting up to 135 people, including families, friends and entire communities.

Pieta continues to provide critical support to those who need it most, responding to over 100,000 crisis calls and texts last year. Importantly, every 2km walked can help fund one life-saving call to Pieta’s crisis helpline, meaning every step taken by participants has a

direct impact.

“At Circle K, we are deeply proud to stand with Pieta as both a charity partner and the official coffee partner of Darkness Into Light 2026,” said Gillian McGowran, Market Development Director, at Circle K Ireland. “By offering free tea and coffee to participants, we want to support and thank the incredible communities coming together on May 9.”

In the lead-up to the event, Circle K encouraged customers nationwide to add a €1 donation at the till, helping to directly support Pieta’s vital, life-saving services. “Together, we can help shine a light in the darkness while supporting the vital work Pieta delivers every day,” said Gillian.

Through its nationwide services, including in-person, phone and video therapy, and suicide bereavement support, Pieta provides free, professional care to thousands of people each year. Community fundraising events like Pieta’s Darkness Into Light are essential to helping ensure these services remain available to everyone who needs them.

Stephanie Manahan, CEO at Pieta, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Circle K for their continued support of Darkness Into Light and for helping to create such a warm and welcoming moment for participants on the morning of the walk. Every person who takes part is helping to ensure that Pieta’s free suicide and self-harm prevention services remain available to those who need them most.”

Launched in January 2026, Circle K’s three-year partnership with Pieta includes a commitment to raise €1 million to support vital suicide and self-harm prevention services.

First Taco Bell opens in Northern Ireland

APPLEGREEN recently unveiled their newly renewed service area in Lisburn North, marked by the opening of Northern Ireland’s first Taco Bell and a significant expansion of their retail and food offering. Situated within the Applegreen Lisburn site, the revamped facility introduces Taco Bell alongside an enhanced customer experience featuring an M&S Food shop-in-shop and an Applegreen convenience store.

The new additions complement a strong line-up of popular food and beverage brands on-site, including Chopstix, Burger King, Subway, Greggs and Lavazza, creating one of Northern Ireland’s most diverse roadside food and retail destinations. Designed to serve both motorists and the local community, the site offers a modern destination for food, coffee and everyday essentials on the go.

“The opening of Northern Ireland’s first Taco Bell at our Lisburn North site is a major development and reflects our ambition to continually evolve our offering for customers,” noted John Diviney, Managing Director of Applegreen UK. “Together with M&S Food and all the other brands, we’re delivering an unmatched mix of quality, choice and convenience. We’re proud to continue playing a

role in customers’ journeys by creating a destination that reflects what they want most.”

The opening of Northern Ireland’s first Taco Bell at Lisburn North marks another milestone in Applegreen’s commitment to expanding their food and retail offering across the island of Ireland, delivering exceptional service and quality to motorists and local communities.

What’s New

GLENILEN FARM LAUNCH LARGE FORMAT YOGHURT POUCHES

SOMETIMES THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE A LITTLE CRACKED

GLENILEN Farm, the family-run dairy producer based in West Cork, have launched two novel large format Natural Yoghurt Pouches, available in larger 500g and 1kg sizes. The squeezable pouches will offer consumers a new and convenient alternative to traditional yoghurt tubs, with a resealable format to keep the product fresher for longer once opened. “We understand that consumers are looking for quality now more than ever, but we also know that convenience and affordability are incredibly important. Our new 500g and 1kg pouches were designed with this in mind and really stand for what we believe in at Glenilen Farm: that simple, wholesome food should be easy and accessible to everyone,” said Alan Kingston, founder of Glenilen Farm.

CARROLL’S INTRODUCE INTERACTIVE ON-PACK EXPERIENCE

CARROLL’S of Tullamore have launched a new multi-touch point nationwide campaign, including an on-pack competition across their Big Family Pack range, inviting shoppers to reimagine how they use sliced cooked meats in everyday meals. Carroll’s new ‘Food From The Heart’ nationwide campaign, created with the team at Boys & Girls, is running across radio, out-of-home, in-store, digital, social media and an on-pack offer. It speaks both to Carroll’s brand heritage in Tullamore, in the heart of Ireland, and to the care and attention that goes into producing great-tasting food.

FIT FOODS LAUNCH NEW MINI MEALS RANGE IN TESCO

FIT Foods have introduced a new range of Mini Meals exclusively in larger Tesco stores and online at Tesco.ie. Proteinpacked and fibre-filled, these meals are mini but mighty, designed with busy, modern lifestyles in mind. The new range includes Beef & Mash with Pepper Sauce; Spinach & Ricotta Cannelloni; Pasta Bolognese; Chicken Pesto Pasta; and Parmigiana Chicken with Garlic Potatoes. “At Tesco, we’re always looking to bring products to shoppers that will help make their everyday lives just that little bit easier - convenient, high-quality, healthier food options that fit into busy lifestyles without compromising on flavour or nutritional value,” said Jamie Griffin, Senior Buyer, Chilled Prepared & Frozen Foods, Tesco Ireland, pictured with Lauren Whelan, Commercial Director at Fit Foods.

BALLYMALOE Mayo delivers a rich, creamy texture with a unique twist: visible flecks of freshly cracked black pepper that create a smooth finish and a subtle peppery kick. Ballymaloe Foods are encouraging people to rethink how they use mayonnaise at home, leaning into some slightly unexpected, at times “cracked”, serving ideas, advising consumers to use it as the base for a homemade Caesar dressing for extra depth and creaminess or stir a spoonful through mashed potatoes for a rich, peppery finish. Ballymaloe Foods are offering customers a free jar of Cracked Black Pepper Mayo when they purchase a jar of Original Ballymaloe Relish (RRP €3.59) while stocks last in Dunnes Stores, Tesco and SuperValu.

BIO&ME EXPANDS IN TESCO AND DUNNES

AWARD-winning gut health food brand, Bio&Me, is significantly expanding its presence in Ireland, announcing a major range roll-out that sees the brand double its SKUs in Tesco Ireland and triple its range in Dunnes Stores. The expansion comes on the back of more Irish shoppers demanding functional foods that support gut health, without compromising on taste. The launches aim to build on Bio&Me’s growing momentum in the Irish market, where it has been stocked for the past three years. The brand’s Super Seedy & Nutty Granola is currently its bestselling SKU. “We hope these launches will resonate with consumers across Ireland, delivering a gut healthy breakfast (or moreish afternoon snack) they genuinely look forward to,” noted Dr Megan Rossi, founder.

TOSCA AWARDED GOLD ECOVADIS RATING FOR 2026

TOSCA have been awarded a Gold EcoVadis rating for 2026, placing the company among the top 5% of companies assessed worldwide. “Across Europe, we are seeing sustainability move from ambition to operational reality,” says Laurent Le Mercier, EMEA President, Tosca. “Customers increasingly want clear evidence of performance, whether that is efficiency, compliance, waste reduction or supply chain resilience.” Tosca’s reusable plastic packaging and pooling solutions help customers reduce waste, improve operational efficiency and build more resilient, circular supply chains for the future.

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