Did you know... Finance Minister Michael Noonan has responded to calls for the introduction of a ‘sugar tax’ on certain drinks products? the Minister said that should such a tax be introduced, it would need to be a “volumetric tax, i.e. the tax would be based on the volume of the product”. The Minister added that “while a sugar sweetened drinks tax was not introduced in the last Budget, it remains under consideration”.
Did you know… An unusually warm winter has seen daffodils bloom almost three weeks earlier this year, with Tesco already stocking the first Irish daffodils in its store? The flowers are sourced through Keelings, working with growers in Waterford, Cork and Kilkenny, and Tesco expects to sell 2 million this season.
Did you know.... The Outlet in Banbridge, Co. Down, is set to be sold for around £40 million (€53 million)? The Banbridge Leader has reported that the Junction One retail park in Co. Antrim is also included as part of the deal, and Banbridge-based Lotus Group are believed to be the buyers.
Did you know... France has introduced a law that makes it illegal for supermarkets to throw away food that is fit for consumption? Supermarkets with a footprint of 400 square metres or more will have to sign contracts with charities by July next year, or face penalties including fines of up to €75,000 or even two years in jail, The Guardian reports.
Did you know... CBRE Ireland has released its annual 'Outlook Report' for 2016? In the report, the property firm says that the biggest challenge for retailers this year will be ‘securing stores for retailers in many of the most highly-sought-after schemes and high streets considering that many are now close to, or at, full occupancy’. CBRE believes that 2016 will see a return to high leases being paid for prime locations, due to increased competition.
Did you know.... Officials in the Asian country of Turkmenistan are reportedly forcing shops to stop selling cigarettes? Though a ban on cigarette sales has not formally been announced, there have been reports of anti-narcotics officials forcing traders to remove cigarettes from their shelves, thejournal.ie has reported. This comes soon after President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov criticized the country’s anti-smoking strategy at a televised government meeting.
Did you know... Asda may pull out of plans to build a £25 million store in Co. Antrim? When asked about the issue, Asda chief executive Andy Clarke would not confirm whether the plans for the location would go ahead. The proposed development would create up to 300 new jobs, according to the Belfast Telegraph.
Did you know... In the UK, Aldi and Lidl have topped YouGov’s BrandIndex ratings in for the second consecutive year? Marketing Magazine reports that the German discounters beat brands such as John Lewis, Marks & Spencer and YouTube. Yorkshire Tea placed 7th after a significant marketing campaign in 2015.
© 2016 - Checkout Magazine
